The need for urgent reform in the rental sector along with rent controls

I attended Threshold who launched their annual report today in which they raised some very real concerns.

Firstly the need for urgent reform in the rental sector, the need for a substantive rise in rent supplement to meet the hikes in rental prices and they share my calls for emergency legislation to combat rental problems that are contributing to the homeless crisis. I have long called for firstly adequate rent supplement as a priority for people as a lack of social housing has meant that an increasing number of low income families are reliant on rent supplements in the private sector, secondly the worrying practice of landlords discriminating against people in receipt of rent allowance without even looking at references or rent history which is more often complimentary to the would be tenant. If my Bill introduced in late October is accepted it will help organisations such as Threshold house people before they fall into the trap of homelessness. They also outlined popular myths such as the fact that a rent supplement increase will hike rents, this is clearly not the case as there has been a €160m. drop in rent allowance since 2008 and rents continue to rise rapidly especially in the greater Dublin region. Another worrying trait is the issues arising from rent arrears and illegal evictions. There needs to be a fast track of the rolling out of the housing assistance payment scheme and a need for huge rental reform. In Ireland the average renting time in a property is 18 months, this is causing huge uncertainty for families placing children in schools, becoming part of communities and getting stable employment in a designated area, we need reform so as that renting is a feasible option long term as it is across Europe. Major reform is needed along with rent controls…

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