AHBRA welcomes the commencement of its remaining powers and functions by Minister O’Brien.


The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, signed
the commencement order with effect from 1st July 2022, providing the Approved
Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) with its remaining powers and
functions.

From 1 July 2022, AHBRA will have the ability to monitor and assess AHBs against the
Standards for AHBs. AHBRA will also be able to carry out investigations into the affairs
of AHBs where it is considered appropriate.

Minister O’Brien commented:
“AHBs, independently regulated by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory
Authority, will play a key role assisting the Department in meeting the objectives
under Housing for All to enable a sustainable housing system in Ireland with a supply
of good quality housing to match long-term needs, promote social inclusion and to
ensure that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent possible. Statutory
regulation will provide further assurances to tenants, the public and potential investors
that AHBs operate in a secure environment.”

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage press release can be
found here.

The following sections of the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act
2019 have been commenced:

  1. paragraph (e) of section 9 Functions of the Regulator
  2. section 38 Making a standards assessment
  3. sections 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 on Compliance & compliance plans
  4. sections 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 on Investigations
  5. section 66 on report of Minister

Additionally, AHBRA would like to make all AHBs aware of an important amendment
which came into effect on the 5th July 2022 relating to the timeframe for deemed AHBs to register with AHBRA.


The amendment specifically relates to subsection (6) of section 34 of the 2019 Act as
follows:

  • (a) in paragraph (a), by the substitution of “2 years” for “12 months”,
  • (b) in paragraph (b), by the substitution of “3 years” for “2 years”,
  • (c) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “4 years” for “3 years”, and
  • (d) in paragraph (d), by the substitution of “4 years” for “3 years”.

Details on the amended timeframe for all deemed AHBs to register with AHBRA can
be found here on our website.

AHBRA’s focus over the coming months will be the development and implementation
of our monitoring and assessment frameworks. This will include the commencement
of AHBRA’s annual performance monitoring process in September 2022. Additionally,
AHBRA will launch a pilot assessment programme in the Autumn which will involve a
small number of AHBs being selected to take part in this programme.

AHBRA will shortly issue a survey to all AHBs to ascertain the type of performance
information currently being reported to Boards by the AHB. This is the first stage in
the development of our monitoring and assessment approach and AHBRA would
strongly encourage all AHBs to take part.

Further information on AHBRA’s powers, functions, commencements and amendment
can be found here on our website.

All AHBs should ensure they have joined our mailing list to receive important updates
on our functions and all aspects of AHBRA’s role. To join the mailing list please email
communications@ahbregulator.ie. For all other queries please contact
info@ahbregulator.ie


1 The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act (which was signed
into law on 5th July 2022) includes an amendment to Section 34 of the Housing (Regulation of
Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019.