Residential Tenancies Board Survey Reveals Alarming Rental Cost Burden and Insecurity for Tenants
Labour Leader and housing spokesperson Deputy Ivana Bacik has expressed concern following the publication of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) latest Rental Sector Survey for 2023, which confirmed distressing realities for renters in Ireland.
Deputy Bacik said:
“The findings from the RTB Survey underscore a troubling state of affairs in Ireland’s rental sector. The findings confirm that renters continue to face such a heavy cost burden, dedicating nearly one third of their income solely to paying rent. Worse still, the looming threat of insecurity persists for far too many.
“The Government is simply not doing enough to address the chronic shortage of accommodation available to rent. The consequences of this situation are dire, amplifying the anguish and stress experienced by so many individuals and families who are struggling to secure affordable, stable housing.
“Labour’s Renter’s Rights Bill, which was introduced in 2021, would address the ongoing practice of ‘no fault’ evictions and provide for greater security of tenure for renters. Labour’s housing plans would also challenge the developer-led mindset of the current Government. Reliance upon private development will not fix our housing crisis, and this Government has to stop pretending that it will.
“The urgency of this situation necessitates immediate legislative changes to ensure greater protection for renters. I’m calling on Government to swiftly enact reforms to address the practice of ‘no-fault’ evictions and to put in place effective policies for delivery of homes at greater scale, to ensure that in future more individuals and families will be able to enjoy Christmas in homes that are affordable, safe and secure.”