Two percent rent increase cap ‘worse than useless’, says MacVeigh

Responding to the government announcement on a 2% rent increase cap in RPZs, councillor Tina MacVeigh (PBP) said only real rent controls with a rent authority empowered to reduce, set and cap rents to guarantee affordability can address the crisis.

Cllr MacVeigh said: “The government proposal to impose a 2% cap on further rent increases in the RPZs is worse than useless in the face of the current rental and housing crisis.”

“It is quite shocking that the Minister does not seem to get the fact that rents are already insane and at totally unaffordable levels.

“We need radical and immediate measures to reduce rents and a mechanism to set them and keep them at levels that are actually affordable.

“What is needed is a rent authority with the power to set rents, including the power to bring rents back to affordable levels.”