Brian Stanley warns government rent plan will drive prices up
Brian Stanley addressed the housing emergency, criticising government rent measures and calling for increased affordable and cost rental homes. He argued that exemptions and weak rent controls will push already high prices higher and leave many tenants trapped.
Brian Stanley said Ireland faces a housing emergency with 15,500 plus in homeless accommodation and a huge waiting list for social housing. He noted that Leash has a waiting list of 1,600 households and that government targets and projections are being missed by a country mile.
He criticised the government’s rent measures, saying new apartments will be exempt from a 2% rent cap and small landlords with three or fewer homes can continue to set rents and carry out no-fault evictions. He said landlords can charge a market rent when a tenancy ends voluntarily, which he warned will follow galloping market rents.
Stanley highlighted low-paid workers and families who are being left behind - many have no options and are trapped in private rents. He said workers and families are paying more than half their income in some cases to "rack rent on landlords," and warned that students returning in September face astronomical prices.
He welcomed the decision to bring 55 municipal districts not previously covered by RPZs into the loop but said it was belated. He argued existing rent pressure zones are being circumvented, citing towns where rents have risen well beyond the 2% limit despite coverage.
Brian Stanley called for proper rent limits, a step-up in the tenant-in-situ scheme, and increased supply of cost rental and affordable homes to buy. He also pressed for investment in critical infrastructure - notably water supply and electricity - to ensure new homes can be brought on stream.
Housing emergency and waiting lists
Brian Stanley said Ireland faces a housing emergency with 15,500 plus in homeless accommodation and a huge waiting list for social housing. He noted that Leash has a waiting list of 1,600 households and that government targets and projections are being missed by a country mile.
Critique of rent cap exemptions
He criticised the government’s rent measures, saying new apartments will be exempt from a 2% rent cap and small landlords with three or fewer homes can continue to set rents and carry out no-fault evictions. He said landlords can charge a market rent when a tenancy ends voluntarily, which he warned will follow galloping market rents.
Impact on low-paid workers, tenants and students
Stanley highlighted low-paid workers and families who are being left behind - many have no options and are trapped in private rents. He said workers and families are paying more than half their income in some cases to "rack rent on landlords," and warned that students returning in September face astronomical prices.
Rent pressure zones and enforcement gaps
He welcomed the decision to bring 55 municipal districts not previously covered by RPZs into the loop but said it was belated. He argued existing rent pressure zones are being circumvented, citing towns where rents have risen well beyond the 2% limit despite coverage.
Calls for policy fixes and infrastructure investment
Brian Stanley called for proper rent limits, a step-up in the tenant-in-situ scheme, and increased supply of cost rental and affordable homes to buy. He also pressed for investment in critical infrastructure - notably water supply and electricity - to ensure new homes can be brought on stream.
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Transcript
This is a very important motion and timely, and as a group of left TDs, we are a party to it. We have a situation where we have a housing emergency. I think everybody accepts that now, with 15,500 plus in homeless accommodation. Huge waiting list for social housing. Leash, which has a fairly good record for social housing, still has a housing waiting list of 1,600 households. Low government targets and projections are missed by a country mile. There is a huge need for investment in infrastructure and water, which we are falling way behind with. Those who are above the income limit for social housing can't get an affordable house or buy a house or get a cost rental. This is really important. This is a group that is really being left behind. A group of low-paid workers who are being caught and who have no options, trapped forever in private rental accommodation, with no controls over the rents they are being charged. Drip-free affordable housing and even less conscious rentals, that needs to change ministers. Workers and families are paying more than half their income, in some cases, to rack rent on landlords, and we need to change it. But what did we get? What did you do last week? The government will force through measures now, through this house, that will drive already skyrocketing high prices up into the air. The government has shown no regard for struggling renters, or else you seem to miss the point here. New apartments will not be covered by the 2% rent cap, and it is supposed to bring prices down. I mean, are you kidding? A landlord with three or less homes can continue to charge what they like, and continue with no-fault evictions. Where a tenancy ends voluntary due to a tenant buying a house, moving into a social house, or going to another rented home, the landlord can charge what is called a market rent, i.e. they can follow the already galloping rents that are there. And what are students to do? Students seem to be forgotten. They're going to come back ministering in September. You know, what are they facing to come in September and September after? The prices that are being charged are astronomical, and we really need to do that. We need to do something for our students. While it's welcome that 55 municipal districts, not covered by RPZs, are being brought into the loop, but you forgot about that last week until you were reminded about it. It's welcome that's now happening. But even the existing RPZs, rent pressure zones, landlords have found ways about it. All you do is take any town in the county, and you see Portlaoise, for example, and Mount Millic and places like that. In Portlaoise, they're covered by it. Rents have shot up way beyond 2%, multiples of that. The proof is there in the actual rents being charged. So what we must do is bring in proper rent limits, increase the supply of cost rental and affordable housing to buy. We must also step up the tenant-in-situ scheme and invest in critical infrastructure, such as water supply and electricity, to ensure that new homes can be brought on stream.