New Policy Launched To Tackle Growing Rent Crisis

Fianna Fáil has published a policy document aimed at tackling the "growing national rent crisis".

The document – 'Generation Rent – A new deal for Renters and Landlords' – outlines a 3 step strategy to address the rent crisis:

• strengthening tenants' rights and rent affordability

• improving the quality of accommodation and encouraging greater investment to boost supply.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Environment and Local Government Barry Cowen TD launched the document today alongside Dublin City Councillors Paul McAuliffe and Deirdre Heney.

The policy document builds on proposals unveiled last April by Fianna Fáil through its "Supporting Home Ownership – A National Housing Roadmap" strategy. This strategy envisages a €4.5bn social housing direct build program.

Speaking following the launch Deputy Cowen said: "The rent crisis is growing in Dublin and right across the country. We can see the crisis at its worst with the soaring level of homelessness, but also in the student accommodation problems experienced by countless young people.

"Rent is becoming completely unaffordable for many and the quality of accommodation is far below standard. As it stands there are no incentives for landlords to stay in the system.

"The self styled Action Man Minister Alan Kelly has talked about a 'perfect storm' but he has stood by while the storm has developed, ignoring the warnings and attacking those who tried to point out it was coming. The time for action is now long overdue.

"The proposals include specific measures to encourage long term leases to give tenants secure occupancy and to allow families to consider renting as a longer term option. We have also outlined new measures to ensure ongoing rent affordability by restricting rent rises over the next few years.

"A new affordable rent sector will be developed to allow key workers to live and work in the city centre. It confronts homelessness by raising the rent supplement and keeping it under review thereby ensuring new properties are opened up for vulnerable households. Critically it addresses the central issue of supply and complements our national housing roadmap launched last April which outlined our plan to build 150,000 new homes by 2021."

(MH)