Renters face chaos under new Government plan
Renters face chaos under new Government plan - The Labour Party
- Opposition launches minority report to stop rent hikes
Labour housing spokesperson Deputy Conor Sheehan TD today joined opposition housing spokespeople to launch the Housing Committee Minority Report on the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, in Leinster House, to expose the dangers of the Government’s proposed changes to Rent Pressure Zones and security of tenure. Deputy Sheehan called on the Government to scrap the legislation and replace it with real protections for renters.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“Today, the opposition housing spokespersons have published a Minority Report because we could not stand over what the Government is trying to do to renters through their appalling Bill. This legislation says the quiet part out loud. It moves us towards complete deregulation of rents and basically strips away protections that renters rely on to keep a roof over their heads. This is a rent hike Bill, plain and simple, and renters will pay the price if it passes.
“The Minister has created a system so confusing and so fragmented that it will be impossible to enforce. Different rules for different tenancies, different treatments depending on tenancy duration, and endless loopholes for landlords will leave renters exposed and unsure of their rights.
“This legislation will undermine renting as a viable option for thousands of people across Ireland. Renting is no longer a short term stopgap for many families, workers and older people. It is their long term reality. Yet the Government continues to treat renters as disposable, refusing to provide the security of tenure that people need to build stable lives and communities.
“Moreover, I am deeply concerned by the way the Government is attempting to ram this Bill through the Dáil. These are not technical changes with minor impacts. This Bill will have real consequences for real people, affecting whether they can stay in their homes, whether they can afford their rent, and whether they face the constant fear of eviction. Pushing this through without proper consideration shows a complete disregard for the lived experience of renters.
“We already know that under this Bill landlords will be able to reset rents between tenancies. That creates a dangerous incentive. I am worried that we will see more landlords becoming aggressive in breaching tenancy rules, pushing people out of their homes to avail of higher rents. That is not a theoretical risk. It is a pattern we have seen before whenever protections are weakened.
“In large parts of the country, including my own city of Limerick, it is already impossible to rent a home within HAP limits. People are locked out of the private rental market even with State support. Weakening Rent Pressure Zones and security of tenure will only make that crisis worse. It will push more people into homelessness and deepen the misery faced by families, workers and young people who are already at breaking point.
“This Minority Report reflects a shared view across the opposition that this Bill is fundamentally flawed and must not proceed. Together with the other housing spokespersons of the broad left, I will fight this legislation every step of the way because renters deserve better than chaos, insecurity and rising costs.
“The Government must scrap this rent hike Bill and change course. We need policies that cut rents, not inflate them. We need real security of tenure so people can plan their lives without fear. We need clear, enforceable rules that put renters first.”
The full minority report is available here.