‘NCTs’ of rental properties considered

The Government has agreed to examine proposals for an NCT-style test for rented accommodation in the wake of a shocking exposé on overcrowded and dangerous private housing for tenants.

Severe overcrowding in rental accommodation, 16 people to a room, 64 tenants in one property, and levels of extreme danger, were revealed by an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme.

Three dangerously packed properties were identified in the programme — two of these have since been closed while fire inspectors are in the process of shutting the third.