Dáil debates
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Social Welfare Benefits.
4:00 pm
Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
One of the reasons for the decision to reduce rent supplement was the substantial decline in rents throughout the country. Rented accommodation has also become much more widely available. Landlords are aware that existing tenants have a choice. Losing a tenant imposes costs on landlords because they must prepare accommodation for new tenants and then find them. They would prefer to hold on to current tenants rather than go through such a process.
Aga Corrin
Posted on 26 May 2009 10:54 pm (Report this comment)
This is the general situation and is more likely to apply to people who are not in receipt of rent supplement. There have been reductions in rent, but depending on the area, the amounts have varied. It is not correct to assume that there have been reductions everywhere or there is a surplus of rented accommodation. Some landlords will not agree to rent reductions and will take their chances - particularly with tenants at the lower end of the rental market. You cannot just throw these people to the wolves, so to speak. This is just too glib.