Vote against Rent Certainty disappointing says Crowe

Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has expressed his disappointment following the vote and defeat of the Sinn Féin Bill on Rent Certainty. The legislation was introduced by Sinn Féin this week in order to provide greater protection for both tenants and landlords against volatility in the rental market and proposed to link any rent increases or decreases to the Consumer Price Index.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“We are slap bang in the middle of a housing crisis and any fool can see the extent of the growing problem.

“Look around Dublin city and its suburbs,  in its shop doorways and you will see people huddling  trying to keep warm and dry. Many of our hotels and B&Bs are full everyday of desperate families that can’t get rental accommodation, local authority housing lists are getting longer and the cost of rented accommodation is reported to be up by 43%.

“Against this backdrop it’s beyond my understanding and disappointing how  anyone would vote against a progressive bill that attempts to bring some stability to the rental sector. This legislation would have brought some certainty to many of those families and individuals trapped in this sector and with no real chance of alternative social housing.

“What is particularly surprising about the vote was the Government and those who prop them up was their complete ignorance of the extent and urgency of the crisis.

“In my own constituency of Dublin South West all of the Government representatives and their supporters voted against rent certainty. This is at a time when rents are spiralling out of control and families are struggling to afford the ever increasing costs of living.

“Last year, Fianna Fáil presented a policy document which proposed ‘a supposedly bold 3 step new deal for renters and landlords based on Tenants Rights and Rent Certainty’. Yet, this week they inexplicably  voted against just that.

“Fianna Fáil had the chance to put their ‘bold’ policy into practice  yet, they chose to oppose progressive legislation in order to prop up Fine Gael and the ‘Enda’pendents.  Shame on them, another missed opportunity that will mean the crisis will continue.”