Rental crisis not postcode specific

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said comments by the Junior Finance Minister on the cost of accommodation across Dublin do not reflect the reality of the situation in the rental sector.

Deputy O’Sullivan said:

“The implication that the rental crisis is a bigger issue for people on higher incomes looking to live in traditionally expensive areas, or that there are bargains to be got on the ‘other side of the river’, is completely out of touch with the reality of the rental crisis in the capital.

“The minister mustn’t have visited the property websites lately, as a quick search of what’s on offer paints a different picture.

“Let’s take the example of Cabra, where there is currently only one property available to rent on Daft.ie at a cost of €3,200 per month- that’s up €700 since it was first listed in November.

“In Finglas, there are ten properties available to let- the cheapest is a one-bed apartment for €1,300 a month. Or in all of Ballyfermot there is one property available for let, a one bed apartment for €1,247. These sort of prices are replicated right across Dublin.

“I don't know what planet the Minister is living on if he thinks these are reasonable rents whether north or south side of the city, and any suggestion that this crisis is postcode specific or only concentrated at the ‘high end’ of the market is simply not the case.

“In total, Daft.ie says there are currently just 682 properties available to let on the southside of Dublin City, and 337 on the northside.

“It’s disappointing that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voted against Labour Party legislation to cap rents in line the rate of inflation.

“The Government needs to get on with rolling out a national affordable housing scheme with properties to rent as well as buy, and I suggest the 700 publicly owned sites that have already been earmarked are a good place to start.”