Labour calls for eviction ban as house prices continue to rise

Labour has called on the Government to introduce a temporary ban on no-fault evictions and establish a State construction company after a new report showed asking prices for homes continued to climb during the second quarter of the year.

Housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD said the latest MyHome report, which recorded annual asking-price inflation of five per cent between April and June, underlined what he described as the failure of Government housing policy to tackle the housing crisis.

Deputy Sheehan said rising house prices, low levels of housing supply and increasing numbers of eviction notices showed the need for urgent State intervention.

“The latest MyHome report is yet another reminder that Ireland’s housing system is completely broken,” he said.

“Rising asking prices are not a sign of a healthy market.

“They are the direct consequence of years of failed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy, which has placed far too much faith in a private market that is clearly not delivering for people.

“We are seeing the consequences of that failure every day. House prices continue to climb while supply remains at record lows. Government continues to rely on the same failed approach while ordinary people pay the price.”

The Labour TD also highlighted what he described as the report’s most concerning finding – a 50 per cent increase in tenancy termination notices.

“Perhaps the most shocking finding in the report is the 50% increase in tenancy termination notices, which is presented as though it could improve market liquidity.

“Behind every one of those notices is a household facing enormous uncertainty.

“These represent the highest levels of eviction since the Famine and a direct pipeline from the private rental market into homelessness.”

Deputy Sheehan said the report’s finding that homes change hands on average once every 50 years illustrated the lack of housing supply and accused successive governments of failing to tackle vacancy, dereliction, land speculation and land hoarding.

He also pointed to the Housing Commission’s estimate that Ireland has a housing deficit of at least 256,000 homes.

“The Housing Commission has already made clear that Ireland faces a housing deficit of at least 256,000 homes. Government must finally acknowledge the scale of that challenge and respond accordingly. The State has led the construction of homes before and it must do so again through the establishment of a State construction company that can deliver the homes people need.

“Alongside that, we urgently need a temporary ban on no fault evictions to stop more families being forced out of their homes and into homelessness. Government cannot continue to defend a housing system that is failing so many people. It is time to take responsibility and deliver the scale of action this crisis demands.”