06/11/2015

Charity Welcomes Housing Deal

A housing and homeless charity has welcomed a deal between Minister Kelly and Minister Noonan on the issues of rising rents and housing.

The Irish Times reported that a set of measures dealing with rent and housing supply have now been agreed and will go forward to cabinet for formal approval on Tuesday.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said: "The move to a two year fixed rental period offers additional security to tenants and certainty on the costs of rental accommodation. The fact that this type of two year fixed cost rental contract will apply for at least four years means that large quantities of new supply should have been delivered during the intervening period."

"In order to ensure that these measures have the maximum positive impact I would encourage the Government to take two immediate actions. Firstly, we need legislation within hours of formal Cabinet approval to bring into affect the two year fixed cost rental contract to avoid an immediate spike in rents and thus resulting in an accidental increase in homelessness. The legislation also needs to clearly outline the measures which will place a strict onus on landlords to prove the rent charged is not above market rents.

"Secondly, and an essential element in ensuring that the first measure is not undermined, is to make every necessary resource available for the Residential Tenancies Board to allow them to monitor compliance by landlords and intervene rapidly and robustly when landlords are deemed to be non compliant."

(CD/LM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 April 2024
Over 660 Motorists Found Speeding Over Easter Bank Holidays
More than 660 motorists were caught breaking the speed limit across the Causeway Coast and Glens during the Easter bank holiday weekend – an increase of 22% from 2022. Chief Inspector Sinead McIldowney said: "The Safety Camera Vans were deployed at various locations across the North Coast and the increase in these detections is a worrying trend.
01 December 2014
Tenants In Fear Of Losing Their Homes - NABCO
Many tenants in private rental accommodation are afraid of losing their homes, according to research by NABCO, Ireland's co-operative housing provider. The Housing Sentiment Survey finds major differences emerging between the experiences of Dubliners and the rest of the country.
09 September 2014
Housing Shortage Described As 'Crisis' By President Higgins
President Michael D Higgins has said that there is a real and urgent need for more public rental accommodation. Speaking at a meeting for homeless families at a Focus Ireland centre, President Higgins described the housing shortage as a "crisis".
27 September 2018
National Average Rent Rose By 7.6% In Second Quarter Of 2018
The national average rent rose by 7.6% – €1,094 per month, up from €1,017 one year earlier – in the second quarter of 2018, according to the latest report by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). According to the report, nationally, rents grew at 7.
17 November 2009
Rents At Ten Year Low
Rents across the country have fallen to a ten year low, according to findings from property website Daft.ie. The latest report published by the property respected property website said the cost of renting a property fell by a further 4% in the past three months. The national average rent now stands at €771 - the lowest level in almost 10 years.