The Government’s rent pressure zone policy has failed miserably
The latest rent index report from the Residential Tenancies Board is further evidence that rent levels are out of control, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan.
“This report is further evidence that rent levels are out of control. Rents have increased by 7pc in a year and have almost doubled in a decade. Outside of Dublin, the rate of increase was 10pc.
“The Government’s rent pressure zone policy has failed miserably. Rent increases were supposed to be capped at 4pc, but today’s report shows they have far exceeded that. The Government’s new plan to link rents to inflation won’t work given inflation is running at a 13-year high. A new policy approach is urgently required.
“The Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien is blaming non-compliance with rent pressure zones for these increases, which are far in excess of the 4pc allowed. However, the issue that needs to be addressed is that the rent pressure zones are ineffective and are simply not working. In fact, they have not worked since 2016 – when they were first introduced.
“The Minister for Housing needs to hit the stop button on rising rents. There are no excuses left. I am calling on the Minister to ban rent increases for the next three years.”
30 September, 2021
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