The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 was signed into law on May 31st 2019. There are a number of changes enacted and will come into effect at various dates over the next few months.

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS AND PROCEDURES
Effective from 4th June, the legislation provides for a number of changes such as:

1. Where a landlord intends to sell – a landlord must enter into a contract for sale within 9 months of the termination date or must offer to relet the property to the tenant.
2. Where a landlord intends to substantially refurbish the dwelling – the landlord must provide certification by a registered professional that the works would pose a threat to the health and safety of the occupants, would require vacation of the property and would take at least 3 weeks to complete. The landlord must offer the property back to the original tenant on completion of the works
3. Where a landlord intends to move in or move family in and where a landlord intends to change the use of the dwelling – the landlord must offer the property back to the tenant should it become available for let from 12 months from the expiry of the notice of termination.

As the Irish economy continues to grow, so too does the energy requirements of SMEs and the agricultural sector throughout the country. Ireland is transitioning to a low carbon economy in an effort to meet both Government and international targets and to reduce the economy’s dependence

According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) the scale of these challenges is significant, and it will require a coordinated interplay of technology, infrastructure and actions by organisations and individuals to shape Ireland’s energy future. For the past number of years, SEAI has been supporting Irish businesses, large and small, as well as the Irish agricultural industry, to shift to more sustainable energy use by providing a range of support services. This includes mentoring, training, standards development and a number of financial supports to help companies to become more energy efficient, deliver measurable savings and reduce their energy bills. There are six main grants available from SEAI that would be of great interest to SME’s and the agricultural sector.

The Credit Review Office provides an independent review process for SMEs, sole traders and farm enterprises that have had requests for credit refused or had existing credit facilities reduced or withdrawn from the banks that were, at the time, participating in the NAMA scheme. Since it started in 2010, other banks have voluntarily joined the process. The banks currently covered are Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, PTSB and Ulster Bank.

The Credit Review Office aim is to form an independent, impartial opinion on whether your business is viable and will generate enough cash to repay the loan.