Call for rent controls as cost continues to rise

THE Government is being urged to introduce rent controls to alleviate hardship on low income families and protect them from homelessness.

The call comes on the back of new figures that confirm rents in Dublin are continuing to rise.

Figures from the Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) show rents on all types of properties increased by an average of

?¬51 a month for the second quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2013.

The average rent for all areas in Dublin is now e1,101 but two bedroom apartments in many Northside areas are now costing upwards of

?¬1,250 a month.

Last month Daft.ie reported that annual inflation in Dublin rents were up by more than 15 per cent this year and that rental housing stock was 40 per cent lower than 2013.

The PRTB figures, published last week, show that on an annual basis nationally, rents are 5.2 per cent higher. Rents for houses are up 3.7 per cent, while apartment rents have increased by almost seven per cent.

Director of the PRTB, Anne Marie Caulfield, said the private rented sector was an important aspect of Irish housing policy, that had doubled in size between 2006 and 2011.

“It is also serving an important role in terms of social housing, with approximately 77,000 Rent Supplement tenants and 36,000 RAS (Rental Accommodation Scheme) tenants now living in the private rented sector.

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However, Dublin North West TD, Dessie Ellis (SF), believes the system is failing those who need housing most and is calling for the immediate introduction of

“fair rent regulation

?.

Responding to the PRTB figures he said:

“The report finds rents in Dublin have so far this year risen by 10 per cent, that’s on top of previous yearly increases which has led to many rents being as much as a third more expensive than they were when the current Government took office.

“The average rent across the state according to the most recent Daft report is a staggering e915, which is nearly twice what the average worker is taking home a week.

“Coupled with a generally high cost of living especially in urban areas, these rents are making life very hard for people and have ended up leaving many with no choice but to seek emergency accommodation.

“Across Europe a system of regulations is used to keep rents at fair rates which are affordable to tenants but also allow landlords to make a decent living.

“Rent controls must be put in place as part of a package of significant increases in the number of local authority homes being built but it must be done now to curb further spiralling of rents.

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The Dublin Simon Community is urging people who are renting and worried about losing their home to call its Tenancy Support Service on 01-6354888.

“We’re living in a situation of housing shortages, discrimination against social welfare recipients and rapidly rising rents,

? said the organisation’s Homeless Prevention Manager, Caroline Norris.

“In this complex environment, people who never expected to become homeless are seeing their situation spiral out of control quite rapidly. For some, without the safety net of family or friends to rely on, we are finding that there is often just

?¬200 standing between a person or family and eviction.

“Early intervention is crucial help to people to hold on to their home.

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