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The City of Reykjavík Human Rights, Innovation and Democracy Council unanimously concluded the importance of defending the rights of every person to have access to safe and acceptable housing. This was issued at the Council’s last meeting on 8 October.
The Council furthermore emphasized the need for an ongoing dialogue on measures for improvement, involving both legislative and executive institutions – thereby referring to a memorandum released by the City of Reykjavík Office for Human Rights and Democracy.
The memorandum was prepared this summer, following a fatal house-fire at Bræðraborgarstígur 1, which claimed the lives of three tenants. The Council would like to see improvements in the field of fire protection, safety and living conditions for residents in rental housing, and strengthening of surveillance in order to enhance individual basic human rights to secure accommodations.
The memorandum states that current regulations do not fully address the reality of the rental market, and that amendments are needed to prevent individuals, who have difficulties finding affordable housing, from being forced to rent space in unsafe buildings.
The rules and regulations, as well as existing procedures of those institutions responsible for supervising buildings, need to be reviewed, responsibilities need to be sharpened, and the mandate of surveillance authorities needs to be clarified. In addition, information on tenants' rights and where they can seek advice and direct their complaints needs to be much clearer and available in different languages.
"It is totally unacceptable in our society, that those who do not speak Icelandic or belong to vulnerable and marginalized groups such as immigrants, should face discrimination – and be forced to live in unacceptable housing where their safety is compromised, due to lack of resources," says Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir, Chairman of the Human Rights, Innovation and Democracy Council.
The Council emphasizes the need to respond quickly to the housing situation of marginalized groups through active dialogue between the state and municipalities.