Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has commented on the publication of the quarterly rent index by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The figures show that rents have risen on average by 7% across the state this year. The average rent is now €1,352,with average rents in Dublin now at an extortionate level of €1,848.

To put this in perspective, that’s €22,176 per year on average to rent in Dublin.

Given CSO figures for 2019 indicate that the median household income for renters is €38,558. That means that 57% of the households disposable income is going on rent.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The RTB quarterly rent index for Q2 of 2021 indicates that rents have risen by 7% annually. The average rent is now €1,352 a month.

“Rents in Dublin have breached the 4% rent cap that was in place and have risen by 4.4%. Rents outside Dublin have risen by an alarming 10%.

“The figures show that rents are rising the fastest in Leitrim, with the county experiencing 17.3% year-on-year growth. Laois, Sligo, Wicklow, Mayo, Offaly, Kilkenny, Longford and Clare all showed increases of more than 10% during the same timeframe.

“These figures are under the earlier rental rules and are not subject to the revised cap linking rents to inflation. However, rents in rent pressure zones showed rises of over 4%, which indicated that there was widespread noncompliance with the 4% cap.

“Why would this be any different under the new rules. Inflation was at over 3% last month and many economists believe this will continue to rise.

“The government has no plan to tackle runaway rents. That much is clear from reading the new housing plan and listening to the Minister for Housing.

“The delivery of the long-promised cost rental legislation is slow and even then, most of these rents will not be genuinely affordable.

“Ordinary people cannot afford to rent nor can they afford to buy. They remain stuck. This is not a normal way to live and it cannot continue.

“Sinn Féin has a plan for renters and a plan to deliver genuinely affordable homes. We would ban rent increases for three years and introduce a refundable tax credit worth one month’s rent for private rented sector tenants.”