Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today accused the government of callous indifference to the threat of homelessness hanging over people and families in the private rental sector.
“Renters really have their backs to the wall, with many struggling to keep roofs over their heads while living with the daily fear of unaffordable rent hikes or sudden eviction notices.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD today accused the government of callous indifference to the threat of homelessness hanging over people and families in the private rental sector.
Deputy Murphy was commenting on today’s report by Threshold of a dramatic rise in the number of calls it has received from renters in danger of losing their homes because their tenancies are coming to an end.
Deputy Murphy said:
“Renters really have their backs to the wall, with many struggling to keep roofs over their heads while living with the daily fear of unaffordable rent hikes or sudden eviction notices.
“They are right to feel they have been totally abandoned by this government, which has spectacularly failed to keep rents in check and to bring in protections needed to give tenants more security.
“The solutions are staring the government in the face, yet all we are seeing is more callous indifference. A nationwide rents freeze must be introduced as an emergency measure. While rents are already out of control and far beyond what many people can afford, we have to do what we can to stop them spiralling further until supply catches up with demand.
“The government is also dragging its feet when it comes to bringing in a rental register so that people can look online to see the level of rent paid by tenants in specific areas. At the minute, even where Rent Pressure Zone rules restrict landlords from increasing rents for new tenants by more than 4 per cent, there is no way for incoming tenants to know how much the previous tenants actually paid.”
ENDS
5th December 2018