Threshold opens renovated regional office with in-person services for renters in Mayo

NATIONAL housing charity Threshold has officially opened its renovated regional office for the west and northwest in Galway City, providing increased capacity for free appointments with its expert advisors.

The upgraded office will serve as a dedicated hub for tenants seeking advice and support on their rental rights in a highly challenging market. 

In the last 12 months Threshold have supported and advised almost 400 households in Mayo, comprising 830 adults and children.

The office will be Threshold’s central hub for the western and north western region as pressure continues to grow in the rental market.

The newly renovated regional office on Prospect Hill, Eyre Square, in the city, was officially opened yesterday Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, alongside local stakeholders and members of Threshold’s national and regional teams. The regional hub will also cater for private tenants in other western and northwestern counties including Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.

The official opening comes as the housing charity continues to experience a high volume of queries regionally and nationwide. In the past 12 months, Threshold supported 3,211 households across Connaught and Donegal.

Threshold has flagged the region as one of the most acutely affected by affordability issues, driven in part by lack of available rented housing and continued high housing demand. The timing of the office launch underscores the urgency of the housing situation in the county and wider region.

Minister Browne said: “This is really important timing for my visit to Galway with Threshold, during a week when we have announced the introduction of a national rent control for the entire country. Our aim is to essentially simplify the operation of rent controls in Ireland and ensure that tenants, regardless of what county they live in, are offered rent control protections.

"This week we additionally announced that we will significantly restrict ‘no fault’ evictions. These changes will further enhance the current provision of tenancies of unlimited duration, with the introduction of rolling tenancies of a minimum of six-years.

"Threshold plays a key and incredibly valuable role in supporting tenants... to understand and to assert their rights as tenants. This renovated office space is a positive step in ensuring that renters in Galway city and county as well as surrounding counties will have greater access to expert advice and support.

"In that work, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with John Mark and the excellent team at Threshold, as well as wider stakeholders, to mitigate challenges in the sector.”

Commenting on the office opening, Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty added: “This reopening of Threshold’s Galway office gives us the capacity to work more closely with tenants in the region and ensure they are supported according to their needs. We are seeing continued pressures facing private tenants in the west and northwest, with increased demand for affordable housing, and increasing rents - some of which are in breach of rent regulations and over the limits in place under Rent Pressure Zone legislation.

“Threshold’s western regional office will be an important resource for tenants in the region, who can be assured that they will receive free, expert-led advice and support for queries regarding their tenancy. We look forward to continuing to work with the department, local authorities, other statutory agencies and NGO partners to try and ensure the private rental sector is more affordable, tenancies are protected and homelessness is prevented.”

The Galway office is the second regional base opened by Threshold this year, following the launch of its new midwest office in Limerick last month. These office launches form part of Threshold’s national strategy to ensure private renters across the country have better access to critical support services.

To commence with, Threshold’s Galway office will be open to the public on Monday, June 30, with public consultations by appointment available from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

The renovation of the office was made possible by a generous bequest from the late Mr. Chris O'Dea, whose lasting legacy of support is honoured with a dedicated room in his memory.

Additionally, the charity will continue to hold appointments at: Ard Family Resource Centre on Doughiska Road, Galway City, every Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Castlebar Citizens Information Centre, Hopkins Road, Castlebar, on the first and third Wednesday of every month between 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Appointments can be scheduled via Threshold’s website at www.threshold.ie or by calling 1800 454 454.

Threshold’s helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by phoning 1800 454 454, or online at www.threshold.ie/get-help for any private renter in need of advice or support.