This fig leaf measure further exposes the government’s incompetent handling of the housing disaster
The delay in introducing a right of first refusal for renters, when their home is put up for sale, is further evidence the government is making up their housing policy as they go along, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan.
“When this measure was first announced, there was complete confusion from the government about whether legislation would be required, to ensure tenants had a right of first refusal when their landlord put their home up for sale, or not.
“It now seems that so little work was done in advance of this proposal being announced in early March, that the government has spent the past four months trying to figure out how to legislate for this right.
“Reports today have suggested that if this legislation is ever actually enacted, it will be functionally useless. Instead of having independent valuations to guide sale prices, landlords will be able to sell to the highest bidder. This confers no real benefit on tenants – most of whom are priced out of buying their own home.
“The eviction ban should never have been lifted – particularly when the government’s so-called safety net was not yet in place. As it stands, it now transpires their safety net is threadbare.
“This fiasco is the latest evidence the government is making up their housing policy as they go along. It also indicates there is very little comprehension of the main issue driving the housing crisis – a huge affordability gap.
“Instead of offering real solutions to the housing crisis, this government is wasting time on proposals that won’t work. This fig leaf measure further exposes the government’s incompetent handling of the housing disaster.”
Ends