Rents continue to rise as the Government rehashes tired old policies

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has criticised the Government’s ongoing and persistent failure to tackle the rents crisis facing Ireland. Teachta Crowe said that while the increase in Dublin is a small percentage it is additional evidence and proof that rents are only going one way under a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Green government.

Teachta Crowe said: “The latest Daft.ie report makes for grim reading. It shows that the average asking rent across the state is now €1,477, 5.6% higher than the same period last year. Rents in South County Dublin continue to be the highest at an average €2,244. “Rents in Dublin are up 0.5%, however, across the rest of the country, in 17 counties, rents have increased by more than 10% in one year.  “Minister Darragh O’Brien has now been in office for over a year and the rents are even higher now than they were under the last two Fine Gael Housing Ministers.

“If the government had done what was necessary and banned rent increases at an earlier stage, and backed two Sinn Féin Bills, which would have done so, many renters who are already at the pin of their collar would have been saved from these rent hikes. “The Minister’s Housing for All Plan has been delayed due to wrangling between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I don’t hold out much hope of any Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael Minister bringing forward the progressive housing policies we need to break the cycle of ever increasing rents. “The government must commit to a dramatic increase in capital investment in affordable housing to rent and buy. They must also ban rent increases for three years, and introduce a refundable tax credit for renters that would put one month’s rent back in every renter’s pocket.

“We need to see affordable cost rental homes delivered at scale where they are needed. We also need the Minister to commit to investigating the disorderly exit of landlords from the market. “So far, all we have keep seeing is a rehashing of the same old policies that clearly work. “We need a new Minister with a different approach ready to put renters before speculative landlords.”