Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the last year alone rents have increased in County Roscommon by 5.3% and in County Galway by 5%. County Galway is now one of eight counties to have an average rent of above €1,000 per month. Average rents in County Galway now stand at €1,105 and in County Roscommon at €670. I was contacted last week by a person living in Ballinasloe whose rent is being increased after a rent review by nearly €400. This is a rent increase of 45% to 50%. This is exactly what is happening all of the time especially outside rent pressure zones where there are limited protections on rent increases.

While we continue to let landlords increase rents as they please, renters are struggling even more and we are putting them at risk of homelessness. The Minister referred to “generation rent” and the move to home ownership. How can that be done? People simply cannot afford to save the deposit and they have no savings at all. If one’s rent is going up by €500 or €400 in places like Ballinasloe, in a rural part of County Galway, then alarm bells should be ringing.

The need for an NCT-style certification for all rental properties to ensure compliance at very minimum standards is absolutely critical. Every single week in my office in Ballinasloe we are receiving calls from tenants who have broken showers, no heating or leaking roofs and nothing is being done about it. These are very basic standards for renters who are paying above and far more than they should be paying in rental costs. I have a number of friends who have moved home over the past number of years in order to try to save for a deposit. This should not be the case but they simply cannot afford to rent. They are working but they cannot afford to save a deposit. Many of them want to own or build their own home. I recommend this motion to the House and I hope that it will be supported.

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