“Removing 2% rent cap a cruel decision by a government captured by vulture funds”

Removing the 2% rent cap means throwing ‘generation rent’ to vulture fund landlords to pay for government housing failures, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. 
  
“Lifting the 2% rent cap is a cruel decision by a government captured by vulture fund landlords,” he said.

“The Social Democrats will stridently oppose this outrageous move in the middle of a housing emergency. 
  
“There is no guarantee removing these rent caps will lead to an increase in supply of rental properties.

“In fact, it will encourage the investor purchase of new build homes as rental properties – further pushing up house prices and locking home buyers out of the housing market. 
  
“Without a no-fault eviction ban in place, lifting the 2% rent cap will lead to increased evictions and homelessness as landlords evict tenants to get a new tenancy and bring the rent up to market rents. 
  
“The Social Democrats have set out alternative ways of delivering affordable housing on a massive scale – including setting up a Homes for Ireland savings scheme and through using budget surpluses. 
  
“Yet this Government is caving to corporate landlord lobbyists and choosing to throw renters to the wolves to pay for this government-created housing disaster.”