Updated to 29 May 2026 (Act No. 11 of 2026 and S.I. No. 217 of 2026)
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Housing Act 1988
No. 28 of 1988
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement | Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| S. 1 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 2 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 3 | 16 February 1990 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 33 of 1990), art. 2 |
| S. 4 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 5 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 6 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 7 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 8 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 31(9) | |
| S. 9 | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 2 |
| S. 10 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 11 | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 2 |
| S. 12 | 2 October 1984 | Housing Act 1988 (28/1988), s. 12(7) |
| S. 13 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 14 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 15 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 16 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 17 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 18 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 19 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 20(1) | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 2 |
| S. 20(2) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 20(3) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 20(4) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 21 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 22 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 23 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 24 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 25 | 16 February 1990 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 33 of 1990), art. 2 |
| S. 26 | 16 February 1990 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 33 of 1990), art. 2 |
| S. 27 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 28 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 29 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 2 |
| S. 30(1) | See Schedule | |
| S. 30(2) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| S. 31 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 3 |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Labourers Act 1936, s. 20 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 2, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing Act 1966, ss. 12, 42 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 3 and sch. |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing Act 1966, ss. 53, 54, 55, 102(3) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 2, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing Act 1966, s. 60 | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 3, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing Act 1969 | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 2, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, s. 6(8) | 19 August 1988 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1988 (S.I. No. 199 of 1988), art. 2, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, ss. 9, 10 | 1 January 1989 | Housing Act, 1988 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1988 S.I. No. 295 of 1988), art. 3 and sch. |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, s. 16 | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 3, schedule |
| Sch. insofar as it relates to the repeal of Housing Act 1984 | 1 April 1989 | Housing Act 1988 (Commencement) Order 1989 (S.I. No. 40 of 1989), art. 3, schedule |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision |
|---|---|
| Act (other than ss. 27, 28) included in collectively cited Housing Acts | S. 31(2) |
| S. 27 included in collectively cited County Management Acts, Cork City Management Acts, Local Government (Dublin) Acts, Limerick City Management Acts, Waterford City Management Acts | S. 31(3)- (7) |
| S. 28 included in collectively cited Vagrancy Acts | S. 31(8) |
| Functions transferred and references construed (Mayor of Limerick) | 7/2024, ss. 1(3), 10, & sch. 1 part 2 |
| Minister may issue guidelines and codes of practice in relation to collectively cited Housing Acts | S.I. No. 477 of 2011, regs. 63(2), 71 and sch. 2 |
| Minister may give directions and issue guidelines in relation to collectively cited Housing Acts | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 4, 5 |
| Functions under collectively cited Housing Acts transferred to HSE | 42/2004, ss. 3(1), 4, 58, 59(1), (2), (3), Schedule 3 item 43 |
| References construed in relation to collectively cited Housing Acts | Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (22/2009), sch. 2 part 4 item 5, and s. 8 (amending Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 (18/1992), s. 23) |
| 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 9(2),(3) | |
| 42/2004, ss. 67 (2) and sch. 3 item 43 | |
| Application of collectively cited Housing Acts restricted | S.I. No. 477 of 2011, regs. 1(3), 42(22) and sch. 2 |
| 21/1997, s. 14(1), as substituted by Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, s. 19(9) | |
| 21/1997, s. 14A, as inserted by 33/1998, s. 35(b), and as substituted by Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, s. 19(10) | |
| S. 1(1) references construed | S.I. No. 158 of 2014, reg. 152 |
| S. 2 applied | S.I. No. 412 of 2007, regs. 2, 9(2)(b)(ii)(I) |
| S. 3 applied | 18/1992, ss. 10 (11) (a) (i), 38 (5), sch. |
| S. 3(1) functions transferred | S.I. No. 318 of 2015, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule |
| S. 3(2)(e) amended | 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 168 and schedule, pt. 3, item 15 |
| S. 3(5) applied | 18/1992, ss. 10 (11) (b), 38 (5), sch. |
| S. 4 amended | 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 168 and schedule, pt. 3, item 16 |
| S. 4(1) functions transferred | S.I. No. 318 of 2015, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule |
| S. 4(2)(b) repealed | 3/1998, s.125, sch. 8 |
| S. 5 applied | 18/1992, ss. 6 (10), 38 (5) |
| S. 5 applied with transitional provisions | 18/1992, ss. 6 (7), 38 (5) |
| S. 5 repealed | 18/1992, ss. 37, 38 (5), sch. |
| S. 5 bodies standing approved under section at commencement of 18/1992, s. 6 deemed to be approved of under 18/1992, s. 6(6)(a) | 18/1992, s. 6(7) |
| S. 6 functions transferred | S.I. No. 318 of 2015, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule |
| S. 8 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 9 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 9 applied | 18/1992, ss. 5 (2) (a) (i), 38 (5) |
| S. I. No. 262 of 1993, art. 5 (1) (b) | |
| 33/1998, ss. 1 (4), 6 | |
| 30/2000, ss. 94 (2), 269, 270 | |
| S.I. No. 412 of 2007, regs. 2, 9(2)(b)(ii)(I) | |
| S. 9 application restricted | 31/1993, ss. 1 (5), 35 (2) (c) (vi) (vii), sch. 3, pt. 1 |
| S. 9(4)(b) substituted | 42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6 part 11 item 1 |
| S. 10 references construed | 18/1992, ss. 6 (10), 38 (5) |
| S. 10 housing authority services under | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 10(a)(ix) |
| S. 10 treatment of lettings for VAT purposes | 31/2010, ss. 2, 97(4) |
| S. 10(4) functions transferred | S.I. No. 318 of 2015, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule |
| S. 11 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 11 application restricted | 21/1997, ss. 14 (1), 24 (4) |
| 31/1993, ss. 1 (5), 35, 2 (c) (vi) (vii), sch. 3, pt. 1 | |
| S. 11(4) substituted | 42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 11 |
| S. 12 housing authority services under | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 10(d) |
| S. 12 restriction on tenant purchase under | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 51(2)(d)(i) |
| S. 12(1) amended | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 8 and sch. 2, pt. 3 |
| S. 12(8) inserted | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 8 and sch. 2, pt. 3 |
| S. 13 funding for services under | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 12(1)(c) |
| S. 13 interest payable in accordance with | 22/2009, s. 33(1)(b) |
| S. 13 moneys owing to housing authority, interest, instalments etc | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 33(1)(b), 34(1)(b) |
| S. 13, power of housing authority to serve notice. | 18/1992, ss. 10 (1), 38 (5) |
| S. 13 social housing support may include provision of sites under | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 19 (2)(e) |
| S. 13 substituted | 33/1998, ss. 1 (4), 29 |
| S. 13(3) amended | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 8 and sch. 2, pt. 3 |
| S. 14 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 14 conditions specified | S.I. No. 915 of 2005, reg. 3 |
| S. 15 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 15 applied | S.I. No. 412 of 2007, regs. 2, 9(2)(j) |
| S. 15 amended | S.I. No. 86 of 1992, regs. 3, 4-6 |
| S. 15 references construed | 18/1992, ss. 6 (10), 38 (5) |
| S. 15(1)(c) substituted | 33/1998, ss. 1 (4), 30 |
| S. 15(2)(b) substituted | 18/1992, ss. 27, 38 (5) |
| S. 16(2) functions transferred | S.I. No. 318 of 2015, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule |
| S. 17(1) (2) repealed | 18/1992, ss. 37, 38 (5), sch. |
| S. 18 fees prescribed | S.I. No. 51 of 2008, arts. 1(2), 10 and sch., item 8(b) |
| S. 18(6) repealed | 12/2006, ss. 2(1), 4(1) and sch., pt. 1 |
| S. 20 repealed | 22/2009, ss. 1(4), 7 and sch. 1 |
| S. 20 (1A) inserted | 18/1992, ss. 28, 38 (5) |
| S. 21 def. of "housing authority" applied | 14/2005, ss. 1 (2), 24 |
| S. 24 repealed | 9/2002, ss. 1 (3), 4, sch. 1 |
| S. 25 repealed | 9/2002, ss. 1 (3), 4, sch. 1 |
| S. 27 repealed with saver | 37/2001, ss. 5 (1), 6, 7 sch. 3, pt. 1 |
| S. 29(1) penalties increased | 18/1992, ss. 33(1)(a), (b)(i), 38 (5) |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 3 | Housing (Mortgage Allowance) Regulations 1993 (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 153 of 1998) |
| Housing (Mortgage Allowance) Regulations 1993 (S.I. No 32 of 1993) | |
| S. 10 | Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1988 (Amendment) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 537 of 1998) |
| Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1988 (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (S.I. No. 157 of 1993) | |
| Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 362 of 1988) | |
| S. 10(4) | Housing (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 104 of 2019) |
| S. 14 | Housing (Site Subsidy) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 916 of 2005) |
| Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 362 of 1988) | |
| S. 15 | Housing (Accommodation Provided by Approved Bodies) Regulations, 1992 (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 106 of 2002) |
| Housing (Accommodation Provided by Approved Bodies) Regulations, 1992 (Amendment) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 151 of 1998) | |
| Housing (Accommodation Provided by Approved Bodies) Regulations 1992 (S.I. No. 86 of 1992) | |
| Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 362 of 1988) | |
| S. 16 | Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 362 of 1988) |