Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that ‘Government must ban rent increases in the private rental sector as rents cpontinue to spiral upwards.’ The call was made as the latest Daft.ie rent report shows rents rising by 8% over the last 12 months.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Today’s Daft.ie report shows rents continuing to spiral upwards. New rents are up 8% over the last 12 months.

“21 counties have experienced double digit rent inflation with Donegal, at 20%, experiencing the biggest hike in the state.

“An average new rental in the state is now costing €21,876 a year. In Dublin an average new rental costs a staggering €27,804 a year.

“Renters desperately need a break. It is time for Government to take up Sinn Féin’s proposal to ban rent increases for three years and to put a full month’s rent back into every private renter’s pocket through a refundable tax credit.

“Government must also increase and accelerate the delivery of affordable rental and purchase homes. In the first 6 months of this year Government had only delivered 123 affordable homes though Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency. 

“We need at least 8,000 genuinely affordable homes a year to meet current need as outlined in our Alternative Housing Budget for 2024.”