The Social Democrats today published their 10-point plan to make life better for renters in Ireland.<\/p>\n
The Renters\u2019 Charter was launched by Rory Hearne, the Social Democrats candidate in Dublin North-West, and R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall, the party\u2019s finance spokesperson.<\/p>\n
The charter commits to building 25,000 affordable rental homes over a five-year period, with average rents in Dublin of \u20ac1,200 per month and \u20ac1,000 per month for the rest of the country.<\/p>\n
In government, the party would introduce a three-year rent freeze and put an end to no-fault evictions. It would also create a rent register to clamp down on illegal rent increases.<\/p>\n
Other proposed measures include a ban on vulture funds buying up existing houses and apartments; the enactment of legislation to make sex-for-rent a criminal office; and empowering garda\u00ed to intervene in illegal evictions.<\/p>\n
Speaking at today\u2019s launch in Dublin, Rory Hearne said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are setting out today is a radical reset of housing policy to give renters protection, real security of tenure and rents that are affordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my constituency and across Dublin, we have seen a proliferation of high-rise unaffordable rental properties being built or bought up by institutional investors. This is all down to Government policy, specifically tax breaks for vulture funds, which we would abolish.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorporate institutional investors should be paying the same tax as other landlords do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would also ban the bulk purchase of homes \u2013 including apartments \u2013 by wealthy investment funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 10 actions contained in our charter, if implemented, would give renters a real opportunity of living in an affordable lifetime home.\u201d<\/p>\n
R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall said:<\/p>\n
\u201cRent should be no more than one third of a person\u2019s salary. However, the latest figures published by Daft.ie today lay bare the scale of the crisis facing renters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe average monthly rent in Ireland is now \u20ac1,955 \u2013 a staggering \u20ac23,460 a year. This represents half the net earnings of someone on the average income, which is a huge chunk of their salary.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis situation is simply not sustainable. Our Renters\u2019 Charter puts people before corporate interests and provides workable solutions to this aspect of our housing emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
November 13, 2024<\/p>\n