It’s Time for Real Renters’ Rights Reform
Labour’s general election candidate in Dublin South-Central, Councillor Darragh Moriarty, today launched Labour’s housing policy and demanded action to end Ireland’s housing crisis. With a fully costed plan Labour is committed to providing renters with the legal protections they need and deserve.
Councillor Moriarty said:
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s Housing for All plan has failed people in Ireland, especially renters. Labour is stepping up with a clear, costed plan to give people the security of a home and a break from spiralling rents and unpredictable evictions.
“Labour’s plan will provide more than 50,000 affordable homes per year and tackle the dereliction and vacancy that plagues our cities and towns. Every home left empty is a lost opportunity. We will take a tough stand to ensure these properties are brought back into use to meet demand.”
“Labour is committed to enhancing security for renters. We will end no-fault evictions and prevent tenants from being evicted when a property is sold. Evictions for refurbishment will only be allowed when a property is truly uninhabitable, stopping landlords from exploiting refurbishment loopholes. We will restrict evictions on grounds of extended family use to include only spouses and children, with stronger regulation to prevent abuse.
“Renters deserve the peace of mind of knowing their homes are secure. Labour will fight to make security of tenure a priority, and we will bring forward measures to make evictions a rare exception.
“Labour will fight for Fair Rents for all. We can no longer tolerate an unregulated rental market that leaves renters in the dark. Labour will create a Register of Rents, allowing tenants to see the rent histories of properties, along with previous tenancies’ lengths, ensuring transparency. We will introduce a Reference Rent system to guide new tenancy agreements and avoid arbitrary rent hikes. Renters should know exactly what previous tenants paid and for how long. This will set a fair baseline for future rents and stop runaway price increases.”
“Labour is committed to enacting minimum standards in rental and social housing. Too many tenants face health risks from mould, infestations, or poor insulation because of inadequate housing standards. Labour will bring in statutory minimum standards to protect renters from unacceptable living conditions and to ensure every rental home is safe and healthy.
“Under Labour, we will empower the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) with increased powers to investigate standards, carry out inspections, and penalise landlords who fail to meet minimum requirements. We’ll introduce an NCT-style certification process to ensure housing quality across both private and social housing, and we’ll legislate a new standard of sustainable, quality housing based on UN criteria.
“Labour’s plan isn’t just a quick fix; it’s a sustainable vision to end Ireland’s housing crisis. Our commitment to affordable housing, renters’ rights, and housing quality reflects our belief that everyone deserves a safe and secure home. Together, we can end the housing crisis. Labour’s policies are designed to build better, and we call on the public to join us in demanding action. We need a new era in housing, built on fairness, transparency, and security for renters and homeowners alike. It’s time to give people a break.”
Labour’s plan for housing is available here: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Build-More-Homes-Labour-Housing-Manifesto-2024.pdf