Law Society call to focus and fund housing law reform

The government is displaying an unfocused approach to reform of housing law and is underestimating the resources needed for it, the Law Society warned this week.While broadly welcoming a government green paper on housing, the Society's response said reform should concentrate more specifically on consolidating housing law.

There was also concern that it would not be properly effective without real and tangible financial commitment.The Society's proposals would see the new laws to help people whose financial circumstances changed unexpectedly.

This would include allowing people to pay back debts in instalments rather than in full and introducing a mortgage benefit scheme similar to housing benefit.

The Law Society also proposed laws to allow tenants to deduct repair costs from rent if landlords failed to act promptly, and an increase in the minimum secure shorthold period for tenants from six to 12 months.

Sue Allen