Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has said it is concerning that a report from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows rents in existing tenancies rising well beyond the 2 per cent legal limit.
Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said:
“Rent Pressure Zone regulations are supposed to cap rent increases at 2 per cent per year. However, average rents for existing tenancies in Dublin, for example, which is covered by these regulations, rose by 5.5 per cent in the past 12 months.
“Furthermore, rents in new tenancies have risen by a staggering 11.6 per cent in 12 months. This is the largest yearly increase ever recorded by the Residential Tenancies Board.
“A common way for landlords to carry out illegal rent increases is to hike up the price in between tenancies. This could be a major contributing factor as to why new tenancies are so much more expensive than existing ones.
“We need to establish a register of rents so that incoming tenants can find out how much rent their predecessors paid. This will allow them to check if rent caps are being properly applied to their tenancy.
“The current lack of transparency and oversight is allowing renters to get ripped-off every time they move home. A register would bring some much-needed control to Ireland’s skyrocketing rents.
“It is clear that the Minister for Housing is presiding over a dysfunctional rent regulation system that is failing to protect tenants.”
November 30, 2023