Rent Pressure Zones are clearly not working

Labour spokesperson on Housing Jan O’Sullivan TD, has called for nationwide control on rents which are linked to the cost of living. 

Speaking today Deputy O’Sullivan;

“Two years on from the legislation that introduced Rent Pressure Zones it is clear that they are not working.

“Areas covered by the Zones are seeing rent increases well above the 4% maximum required and for cities like Limerick and Waterford which are not included, rents have risen by 20% in the past year.

“Quite simply, RPZ’s are not working and must be scrapped. What we need instead is a nationwide control on rents that links them to the cost of living as Labour proposed in a Bill that was voted down by the Government more than two years ago.  I would now go further, because the situation is so desperate for so many people, and impose a freeze on increases until there is some stability in the market, particularly in our cities.

“Our legislation also called for a Rent Register.  The current situation whereby a new tenant has no way of knowing what the previous tenant paid cannot continue.  It makes a mockery of the law and gives no protection when a tenancy changes.

“More than two years of Rebuilding Ireland and two years of Rent Pressure Zones and rents are still spiraling and homelessness has become the scandal of our times.

“The government has to open its eyes to the reality and take action.”