Vol. 548 No. 5
308 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to introduce rent controls in the private rented sector to protect sitting tenants against landlords setting rent increases well in excess of the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/02]
Following detailed consideration of the issue of rent control, the commission on the private rented residential sector recommended that the appropriate rent should be the open market rate with rent reviews occurring no more frequently than once yearly, unless there has been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation.
The Government accepted the commission's recommendations in relation to rent setting and review and this provision will be included in the legislation required to implement the bulk of the commission's recommendations. The Government recently approved the general scheme of a Housing (Private Rented Sector) Bill to give effect to this legislation and it has been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.
