Time for real renter protections
Time for real renter protections - The Labour Party
- Renters paying record-high €2,080 per month
Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD said the latest Daft.ie report confirms what renters already know: rents are spiralling out of control while Government stands idly by. The report shows that market rents rose by 4.3% nationally in the year to September, with the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment reaching €2,080 between June and September.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“The scale of Ireland’s rent crisis has become intolerable. Market rents are now one third higher than pre-Covid levels and two thirds above the Celtic Tiger peak. For too long, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed to grasp the nettle and put in place real protections for renters. Their plans have failed, and it is renters who are paying the price.
“The Daft report shows that rental inflation in the third quarter was actually lower in Dublin than the national average – 2.7% compared to 4.3%. That means the crisis is spreading beyond the capital, putting even more pressure on families, workers and students across the country. People simply cannot keep up with these costs.
“Average monthly rents of €2,080 for a two-bedroom apartment are completely unsustainable. The Government’s failure to deliver affordable, secure homes has pushed an entire generation into permanent insecurity. It is wild that in 2025, people are paying record prices for the most basic necessity – a place to live.
“As we await the Government’s new housing plan due to be announced tomorrow, the question is whether they will finally face up to reality. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s approach has been one of delay, denial and deference to the market.
“Labour has long called for enhancing security for renters. We must end no-fault evictions and stop tenants being forced out when a property is sold. Evictions for refurbishment must only be allowed where a property is truly uninhabitable – closing the loophole that too many landlords exploit. We need to restrict so-called ‘family use’ evictions to genuine cases involving a spouse or child, with stronger oversight to prevent abuse.
“We need a new era in housing – one built on fairness, transparency and security for renters and homeowners alike. It’s time for real action, not more promises. It’s time to give people a break.”