As the latest release from the Residential Tenancies Board for rents for new tenancies in Quarter 3, 2019, shows continued annual rise in rents, Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats said:
“For Minister Murphy to claim that Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are working effectively is ludicrous. While some landlord/tenant relationships work in line with the RPZs, the reality is that without adequate enforcement, regulation is meaningless. The fact that rents are rising annually by 8.2% nationally and by 6.6% in Dublin shows that the 4% RPZ maximum annual rent increase limit is simply not working.
“There is a huge human cost hidden in these stark figures in terms of enormous stress for families, overcrowded accommodation to reduce rent costs, shocking homelessness figures and the sheer precariousness about where people will live and how they will continue to afford rent.”
“Even in tenancies where RPZs are adhered to, 4% still represents a significant annual increase for already hard-pressed renters. It is disgraceful that the Minister continues to adopt a ‘head in the sand’ approach insisting that RPZ’s are an effective solution, despite all evidence to the contrary.
“The Minister claims ‘stabilisation’. The figures just don’t bear that out. And even apart from that, under his watch, rents are now at an all time high. There is a huge human cost hidden in these stark figures in terms of enormous stress for families, overcrowded accommodation to reduce rent costs, shocking homelessness figures and the sheer precariousness about where people will live and how they will continue to afford rent. This is apart from the economic damage done by the massive costs of housing.
“It is also a clear failure of the main opposition party that sat on its hands when we sought to change Housing Minister and Government housing policy recently. As we called for in the recent No Confidence motion, it’s time for a radical rethink and a ‘war footing’ approach to our housing emergency.
“As an interim measure of good faith and commitment to tackling these latest shocking figures, the Minister should withdraw his objections to the Rent Freeze Bill currently before the Dáil and ensure that it is passed immediately.”
ENDS
18th December 2019