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The Social Democrats today set out detailed proposals for a Renters’ Charter to protect tenants and make sure that our rental sector provides secure and affordable homes.

The 12-point charter is being unveiled at the party’s second National Conference in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

The event opened last night with a discussion of issues faced by a generation of young people who are increasingly ‘locked out’ of secure futures, including affordable housing to buy or rent.

“This is a generation of young people growing up with one foot on the street because they can’t afford the deposit to buy a house and can’t keep up with ever increasing rents,” said the party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD.

“Even for the so-called ‘lucky ones’ who have secure jobs or well-heeled parents, they are facing into a future that is much less secure than that of their parents when it comes to finding a place to settle down and call home.”

Deputy Murphy said that a strong rental sector is a vital part of an overall housing strategy, particularly as one in five people are now renting.

The Social Democrats’ Renters’ Charter includes the following measures:

  • Nationwide rent caps and strengthened regulation
  • Extra protections for tenants in buy-to-let properties
  • A deposit protection scheme to fix deposits at one month’s rent
  • Limits on extra charges for bin collections, car parking etc
  • A ban on rental bidding wars
  • Minimum 90-day notice to quit periods (up from 28 days)

Deputy Murphy added: “Both landlords and tenants have rights but also responsibilities in ensuring good attitudes and behaviour within the sector. Our Renters’ Charter offers protections for renters to help create a rental sector that provides security of tenure as well as affordability.”

Download our Renters’ Charter.

27 January 2018

ENDS

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