Ogbu demands action as Galway rents soar by 18%
Ogbu demands action as Galway rents soar by 18% - The Labour Party
- Galway rents soaring under Government’s watch
- Daft.ie figures show Galway City rents now 18% higher than a year ago
- Government must scrap rent reset mechanism in RTB Bill and ban no fault evictions now
Labour candidate in Galway West Councillor Helen Ogbu has accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents of deepening the housing crisis after the latest Daft.ie report showed rents rising nationwide by 4.4% between December and March this year, the sharpest quarterly increase recorded since 2002. The report also found market rents in Galway City are now a staggering 18% higher year-on-year.
Councillor Ogbu said:
“The latest Daft.ie report is a damning verdict on Government housing policy. Ireland is now seeing the sharpest quarterly rent increase since 2002 and Galway renters are paying the price for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s failure.
“The Galway figures are absolutely shocking. Rents in Galway City are now 18% higher than they were a year ago. Workers, students, families and young people are being priced out of their own city.
“These figures come only months after Government’s new rent reforms took effect on March 1st. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents were repeatedly warned that weakening renter protections and effectively creating loopholes for rent hikes would push rents even higher.
“Government must immediately remove the market rent reset mechanism from its rental legislation and support Labour’s Bill to ban no fault evictions. Renters need protection.
“The reality is that years of Government failure to deliver enough social and affordable homes has left supply dangerously low across the country. As the Daft.ie report makes clear, low supply and low availability are driving rents through the roof.
“Instead of investing in state-led housing delivery, this Government continues to hand out tax breaks to private developers while allowing landlords to charge extortionate rents just so people can keep a roof over their heads. Galway renters are being completely abandoned.
“People are sick of excuses while rents spiral further out of control. Galway families, workers and students deserve secure and affordable housing, not endless spin from Government parties. Government must change course now, strengthen renters’ rights, ban no fault evictions and massively increase the delivery of public and affordable homes before even more people are forced into emergency accommodation.”