Rent rises show half-hearted schemes are failing

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the latest evidence of rising rents from the RTB show that the Government’s half-hearted attempts to stem the housing crisis are failing, saying that rises in rents were far outstripping pay increases and that this was only deepening the cost of living crisis.

Teachta Crowe said: “The latest rent figures from the Residential Tenancies Board are just more of the same as far as renters are concerned. In a shock to nobody, rents continue to spiral out of control. Rents are growing every year and show no signs of stopping any time soon. “This is yet another steep increase that far outstrips what should be acceptable and is a massive additional cost for workers and families to bear on top of rapid increases in other household bills.

“Rents like we are seeing right across the state are one of the main reasons why we are going through a cost of living crisis. “The Government’s half-hearted attempts to solve the housing crisis clearly aren’t working. Rents and house prices are still rising far in excess of what is affordable to workers and ordinary families.

“What we urgently need is an emergency ban on rent increases on existing and new tenancies, a refundable tax credit worth a month’s rent for all renters, huge investment in cost rental and far more enforcement resources for the RTB in order to maintain rules and standards across the rental market. “The only thing that will truly solve the housing crisis however is a change of government. Sinn Féin have a plan and is committed to building social and affordable housing and implementing rent controls. This Government seems to care only about the interests of its developer friends along with cuckoos and vulture funds.”