Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has today urged the government to focus on the needs of those in privately rented accommodation and the living conditions of those individuals and families.

Deputy Crowe was speaking following the publication of an annual report from Threshold – Ireland’s national housing charity.

The Dublin South West TD said that the availability of rental accommodation was shrinking in the Dublin area, rents were rising, and accommodation standards were falling.

Deputy Crowe said;

“One in five families now live in private rented accommodation with thousands of those tenants often mistreated by ruthless landlords.

“Today’s report from Threshold highlights the poor standards endured by many of those tenants, renting in substandard accommodation with others having deposits withheld unfairly.

“In the Dublin area the problem is exacerbated by a lack of suitable housing, shrinking rental market, rising rents, and a drop in accommodation standards

“The government has made claims it will help to protect rental tenants but to date, nothing has happened. It is time for Jan O’Sullivan’s department to fast track reform, helping to provide standards and security to thousands of tenants across this state.”

Sinn Féin has called on the government to invest in the Residential Tenancies Board who in recent years have had to cut staff and outsource. The Residential Tenancies Board currently receives no state funding but will soon have an expanded remit.