Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

I join in welcoming Deputy Holly Cairns back to the Dáil and congratulating her. I also congratulate Deputy Emer Higgins. Life will never be the same again. I wish many years of happiness and joy to them and their partners in the years to come.

I raise the situation regarding renters with the Taoiseach and the out of control so-called "rental market" we have. In a lot of areas now, average rents are more than €2,000. Recent reports have shown how they are skyrocketing. The recent Residential Tenancies Board rent index showed an average annual rent increase of 5.5%. In County Laois, it is more than 10%. In eight successive quarters, there have been significant increases in the county. Families and workers are under significant pressure. Notices to quit are on the increase. There are increasing numbers of them from rack-renting landlords who are seeking vacant possession because they are getting ready for next March when there will be effectively no rent controls on new tenancies and new builds. Some landlords are telling tenants that regardless of whether there is a new tenancy or not, rents will go up. It is a free-for-all.

As an example of that, I raise the case of Alan and Denise. They are just over the limit for social housing and they have children. He is a retained firefighter. They have been in private rented accommodation for nine years. Four months ago, the landlord told them the rent was increasing by 50% - a 50% increase in south Laois. He did that in the first week of June. Of course, he knew what he was doing because on 20 June, the 2% cap came in, so a lot of landlords got in early. Their income is less than €40,000 a year. They have no way forward. Alan is 49 years of age. They have no access to social housing because they are over the limit for social housing. They have no access to cost rentals because they do not yet exist in Laois.

There are no affordables, and in any case he will not get an affordable housing loan.

In the case of Darren, a single man with one child, he has moved from one rent pressure zone to another. He is on €460 a week. He needs a car for work. He pays maintenance. He has a child. He is paying €77 in HAP rent and he is paying €120 a week rent to a landlord. Some workers are paying more than half their income in rent. I do not know if the Taoiseach knows that or not.

Vacant possession and evictions are easy because the grounds in the legislation allow for that - if the landlord is facing hardship, if they require a property for a family member or, God forbid, if they are going to renovate the place. A coat of magnolia paint would even ensure vacant possession. Does the Taoiseach recognise that workers and families who rent are under enormous pressure? We are coming up to budget time and I want the Taoiseach to address this. It is way beyond what people can afford. Will the Taoiseach halt his plans for the introduction of a complete free-for-all in March for new tenancies?

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