Guirke blames 'letting agent error' for failure to register property

Meath's Deputy Johnny Guirke says a ‘letting agent error’ was behind his failure to register a rental property with the Residential Tenancies Board and that the error has since been rectified.

A rental property in Galway owned by the Sinn Fein TD was not registered with the RTB.

Deputy Guirke has four rental properties across the country – two in Longford, one in Oldcastle and another in Galway.

While the two houses in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, and the house in Oldcastle were listed onthe RTB database, his house in Cois na hAbhainn in Galway was not.

Deputy Guirke said: "I own four rental properties, which I have always declared in full with SIPO. I manage three of these properties directly; all of which are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. The other property is managed by a letting agency, who had taken on responsibility for registration with the Residential Tenancies Board. This property was initially registered, however it has come to my attention that this registration lapsed due to an error on behalf of the letting agent. As soon as I became aware of this, I immediately rectified this and the property is registered again with the RTB.

"I take my responsibilities very seriously and regret that this error occurred."

A SInn Fein spokesperson said: "All rental properties should be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board - no ifs, buts or maybes. It isn’t acceptable that a rental property was not registered, even for a short period.

“Johnny has accepted he made an error in relation to a rental property when its RTB registration lapsed which was being managed by a local agent. He rectified the situation when it came to light. The property was properly listed in the members’ interests register.

“The party has formally spoken with Johnny and made it clear to him that the situation with regard to the rental property not being registered properly with the RTB was unacceptable and that any further lapses would result in disciplinary action from the party."

Meath TDs who have declared ownership of properties include Deputy Guirke as well as Minister Thomas Byrne who said he had a rental income from a property in Rosnowlagh, Co Donegal.