Responding to the latest report on Daft.ie showing that rents increased by 13.6% in Laois in the past 12 months. Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley said “This rent increase is the highest on record in Laois. The case for rent controls is now stronger than ever and the Government need to realise this reality and do something about it.”
“Families have become homeless in Laois while many in private rented accommodation are living in fear of hikes that would push them into homelessness. I have dealt with several such cases.”
“Yet, Fianna Fail/ Fine Gael and Labour refused to support Sinn Fein’s proposals to bring in rent controls last Summer. They have ducked and dived and avoided the only solution. This report proves that their tactics are back-firing with rents across the State now at an all time high.”
“The case for rent controls is now irrefutable. If they are not put in place soon things will only continue to worsen.”
Concluding Deputy Stanley said ” The Government must commit to the only viable solution to this crisis which is to link rent controls to the level of inflation, something that has been taken up by a number of organisations working in the housing sector. We need solutions and actions now.”
