Fresh homeless fears as new Gov plan ‘incentivises landlords to evict tenants' & Martin accused of ‘gaslighting renters'
HARD-pressed renters face the risk of homelessness under new Government plans, it has been warned.
Under the proposals, rents in newly built
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New plans will see the rental rates of newly built properties tied to inflation
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Housing Minister James Browne will bring the new proposal to the Cabinet tomorrow
Credit: 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
The plans to restructure Rent Pressure Zones will go to Cabinet tomorrow but they have led to fears tenants will face significant hikes and have increased concerns that renters may end up on the streets.
Under the plans,
The proposal, which Housing Minister James Browne will bring to the Cabinet, will likely state that there will be no changes for existing renters if they stay in their current tenancy.
However if they move, a landlord can reset the rent for the new tenant at the market rate.
READ MORE ON HOUSING CRISIS
Taoiseach
But
He said: 'When the Taoiseach said that this was a balanced package to protect renters and encourage investment, he is deliberately misleading the public.
'He is gaslighting renters, and I'm not even sure he fully understands the extent which they're putting huge numbers of people, young people, people approaching pension age, at enormous risk with even greater financial hardship, and in many cases, at risk of
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Mike Allen, the Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland, also told how the proposals could place further
Allen said: 'They seem to be creating a system which creates incentives for landlords to evict tenants so they can bring in something at higher market rates.
Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin reacts to record number of homeless people
'And secondly, they're increasing rents right across the board. What are they doing for low income people on HAP to make sure subsidies there don't force people into deeper debt and eventually into homelessness?'
The Irish Property Owners Association said they were concerned that the
And they stressed that the proposed six-year minimum security of tenure will have a serious negative impact on private, non-institutional landlords, and on the rental
'CHANGES ARE UNFAIR'
Chairperson Mary Conway said: 'The proposed changes are unfair on the individual who – for good reason – wishes to, and needs to, rent out their home for a short period and points to a flaw on the part of the Government thinking which – by going after institutional landlords – has ignored the implications for individual, private landlords.
'We believe that in seeking to address political concerns about the role of institutional landlords (who are predominantly active in the
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Rent pressure zones to be extended to whole country in significant expansion of tenants' rights
The Government is expected to extend rent controls to the whole country, setting the rent cap at 2 per cent for existing tenancies or the rate of inflation for new builds. After a meeting of the party leaders, budget ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers and Minister for Housing James Browne this evening, Government sources confirmed that landlords would not be able to reset rent between tenancies – unless tenants leave voluntarily or have breached the tenancy agreement. Housing advocates had warned the Government that allowing landlords to reset the rent between tenancies would result in many tenancies being terminated by the landlords in order to increase the rents. That avenue now appears to have been shut off, however, according to three sources familiar with the plans. READ MORE One senior Government source conceded that landlords might be less happy with the final package than with earlier versions which have been speculated on in recent days. The details of the package circulating on Monday night suggested a significant expansion of tenants' rights, rather than a big win for landlords and investors. The Cabinet is expected to agree to extend the current rent pressure zones to cover the entire country when it meets at Government Buildings on Tuesday morning. There is also expected to be measures to strengthen protection for tenants, including strong security of tenure and prohibiting 'no fault' evictions in the case of large landlords. It is expected that there will be different rules for small and large landlords, with smaller landlords described as those who have three or fewer rental properties. There will not be a ban on no-fault evictions for small landlords. Asked how the proposals would serve to boost supply of apartments for rent – a key objective of the Government – one source briefed on the plans said that new build apartments would have no rent cap, apart from the rate of inflation, and that the ability of landlords to reset the rent where tenants leave voluntarily would also be of benefit to landlords. But the details circulating on Monday night were less advantageous to landlords than Opposition politicians have been warning about. 'This is just one of a series of measures we'll be taking in the coming weeks to boost supply,' a Government source said. Another senior figure said that these measures on their own did not close the 'viability gap' which has resulted in a steep decline in the numbers of apartments being built. The source said, however, that a series of other measures would be brought forward soon
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
New rental regulations will allow landlords increase rents if previous tenant leaves voluntarily
A REFORM OF rent regulations is set to go to Cabinet tomorrow, which will allow landlords to reset rent between tenancies. The matter was discussed at the party leaders' meeting this evening, attended by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney, where the proposals were signed off on ahead of Cabinet tomorrow. While Housing Minister James Browne is set to announce the details after meeting with ministers tomorrow, it is expected that existing renters would likely remain protected by the current 2% cap. Under the proposal, rents for existing tenants in the entire country will be brought under control under the current Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system that is currently in place. However, the new plans will mean the that 2% rent cap will not apply to apartments built after a certain date, a move government is hoping will increase apartment construction by the private sector. Advertisement Landlords will also be allowed to hike rents in instances where tenants leave homes voluntarily. Tenancy protections will be brought in, according to a government source, who said that protecting renters is a key component. It is expected that new tenancies, while facing higher rents, will see a six-year security of tenure rolled out. Browne will also bring proposals forward to categorise landlords to the number of properties owned. It is not yet clear this evening to what end this categorization is proposed. These proposed changes are coming at a time when the Government is under pressure from left-leaning parties, trade unions and homelessness charities to create policies that favour renters over landlords. Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson, TD Eoin Ó Broin is of the view that renters are being punished for the Government's failures on housing, with the TD slamming the government for changes he said will result in higher levels of homelessness. Likewise, Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne, an academic who has written a book on the housing crisis, has said his party will 'strenuously resist' any attempt by the Government to end RPZs. Hearne has argued that the Government is prioritising the profits of international investors and developers over the needs of ordinary renters. Read Next Related Reads RPZ changes will have 'significant impact' says Minister, who claims he understands renters' fears The Labour Party's housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan has described RPZs as being 'very ham-fisted' but said that, regardless, they are the 'only bit of protection renters have in the private rented market at the moment'. Next week, the Raise the Roof campaign group will hold a demonstration outside Leinster House that is likely to heap further criticism on the government. Browne argues that the measures will boost investment and certainty in supply of homes for rental and the wider residential market. The minister told The Journal last month renters are 'very much to the forefront of my concerns', but acknowledged there is already an affordability challenge out there for renters. With reporting by Muiris Ó Cearbhaill Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Entire country to be brought under Rent Pressure Zone in major change agreed by government
In a meeting tonight, leaders met and agreed on a new system of national rent control Every tenancy in the country is set to be brought under a Rent Pressure Zone, Government leaders have agreed. In a meeting tonight, leaders met and agreed on a new system of national rent control. The current system, which caps yearly rent increases at 2pc or in line with inflation, will be retained. Every area of the country will now be designated as an RPZ under the new national rent control system, meaning the remaining one fifth of tenants in Ireland not in an RPZ will benefit from rent controls. Leaders this evening also agreed on stronger security of tenure protections for renters. This, it is understood, will include an end to no fault evictions in the case of large landlords. The move is one that goes against the recommendations in the report from Housing Commission. In its report last year, the commission said while the rental market was both challenging for both renter and landlord, the RPZs were constraining landlords. According to the report, it said the impact of RPZs has been mixed and the commission recommended changes to the system. In particular, the report said the RPZ system should be reformed and a new system of 'reference rents' be established instead. This would be landlords would be limited on how much they could increase rent by, and would be based off things like the size of the rental property and where it is located. The commission also said regulations should continue between tenancies. 'If a tenancy ends the same regulations apply to the subsequent tenancy. This will discourage termination of tenancies that is designed to increase rental income,' the report said. As reported in the Sunday Independent, the Government was considering new rules which will allow landlords to significantly hike rents beyond the current caps. Under original the proposals, landlords would be allowed to increase rents to market rates in between tenancies of at least six years. While current tenancies are expected to remain under the RPZ regulations, the cap would not apply to newly built apartments. Currently, rents in a Rent Pressure Zone can only be increased by 2pc or in line with inflation, whichever is lower. First introduced in 2016 to control the rapidly increasing rents in high demand areas like Dublin and Cork, it was a major intervention in the market. Rent Pressure Zones were introduced in 2016. Photo: Stock image News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 Since then, the scheme has steadily spread across the country with most areas now considered an RPZ. Almost ten years after they were first introduced, and with the current regulations are due to expire at the end of this year, it had been anticipated that the current rules around RPZs would change. The Government continues to be under pressure on the issue of housing, wth the rental sector a major focus, as the Opposition has swooped on the issue. Raise the Roof campaign will hold a rally outside Leinster House on Tuesday next week at 6pm, calling for urgent Government action on Ireland's housing and homelessness crisis. The rally is timed to coincide with a Private Members Motion tabled by Opposition parties in the Dáil, and will feature speakers from political parties, alongside a series of singers and spoken word performances. The Raise the Roof campaign group is coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and includes trade unions, housing and homeless agencies, women's groups, human rights advocacy groups, and community organisations. Speaking at a press conference to launch the rally, Ethel Buckley, SIPTU Deputy General Secretary said: 'Ten years into the housing crisis, and that crisis remains the greatest political failure of our time. Workers are being priced out of homes or can only rent or purchase with considerable financial burden. 'In the last 10 years rents and house prices have doubled - and in some areas more than doubled - while wages have increased by less than 40%. If anything, this gap has widened in the last couple of years. Rents and house prices are out of control. 'Alongside the human cost of this, we are seeing the serious knock on effects, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in key sectors, and young people once again choosing to emigrate. 'We are deeply concerned at the lack of urgency shown so far by this new government. A government that is content to play the role of helpless bystander to this ever-worsening emergency. What is needed now is a radical reset with sustained action to deliver secure, affordable housing.'
