Only real rent controls with a rent authority empowered to reduce, set and cap rents to guarantee affordability can address the crisis
Responding to the government announcement on a 2% rent increase cap in RPZs, Richard Boyd Barrett TD and People Before Profit housing spokesperson said only real rent controls with a rent authority empowered to reduce, set and cap rents to guarantee affordability can address the crisis.
He said: “The government proposal to impose a 2% cap on further rent increases in the RPZs is worse than useless in the face of the current rental and housing crisis.”
He continued: “It is quite shocking that the Minister does not seem to get the fact that rents are already insane and at totally unaffordable levels. Not only is there no justification for allowing any further increases in rent but we need radical and immediate measures to reduce rents and a mechanism to set them and keep them at levels that are actually affordable.
“We have been saying for years we need a rent authority, whether it is the local authority, the PRTB or a new rent board with the power to set rents, including the power to reduce rents or cap them at levels that are actually affordable.
“In this context, we also reject suggestions from opposition parties that refunds of one month’s rent or measures of that sort will address the crisis.
“In the epicentre of the rental and housing crisis, rents are simply too high. They are totally unaffordable and unjustifiable- they must be pulled back to affordable levels, otherwise public money, through HAPs or rent refunds or the incomes of ordinary people will continue to reinforce a rental market that is already out of control.
“It seems People Before Profit are the only party advocating what is commonplace in many countries- actually controlling rents by setting them at affordable levels.”