Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, spoke in favour of Sinn Féin’s Rent Certainty Act in the Dáil today. The Act will provide greater protection for both tenants and landlords from volatility in the rental market, by linking any rent increases or decreases to the Consumer Price Index.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“You don’t need me to stand here and tell you all about the housing crisis that we have in Ireland.

“You only have to walk outside of here and you will see people sleeping in doorways trying to stay dry.

“I had a mother of six children, one of whom is seriously ill, in my constituency office this week. She has been living in B&B accommodation for over a year and has been told that she will have to wait at least another 6 months.

“This Bill won’t end our housing crisis but it is one significant step.

“This Sinn Féin Rent Certainty Act 2016 will provide greater protection for both tenants and landlords from volatility in the rental market as it will link any rent increases or decreases to the Consumer Price Index.

“This will prevent dramatic increases or decreases in rents. Average rents now stand at over €1,000 per month

“The lack of real social housing units has created a deficit in supply which has pushed more and more families into the private rented sector. Successive Government inaction has created the perfect storm, with longer waiting lists, people losing their homes, and no new units becoming available.

“This has been coupled with a lack of affordable housing in the private market especially in the Dublin area, which has kept more people in the rented sector.

“For many people rents are now unaffordable. More low income families are being pushed into homelessness as rent supplement and HAP levels fail to keep up with rising rent levels.

“Our Bill will help bring rent certainty allowing renters to plan and bring greater stability to their lives and the lives of their families.”

ENDS