asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the grave hardship being inflicted on very many citizens by the inordinate rent increases being demanded under threat of notice to quit in respect of houses built subsequent to April, 1919, and against which demand there is no legal protection; and if, in the circumstances, he will take steps to provide some measure of control by way of Emergency Order, or otherwise, to deal with this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rent Increases.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to similar questions addressed to me by Deputies Fogarty and McCann on the 15th April last. On that occasion I stated that, if evidence were forthcoming of attempts by landlords on any general scale to take advantage of emergency conditions to exact increased rents, I would recommend to the Government that suitable action should be taken by Emergency Powers Order or by express legislation.
Following this, I had up to recently received complaints against only two landlords and this did not, I felt, justify action on the lines suggested in the question. Within the last week or so, however, I have received representations from more than one source regarding the position in Limerick where, it has been stated, a deliberate policy has been embarked upon by a number of landlords which aims at securing increased rents and which is being pursued to the extent of instituting ejectment proceedings against tenants who will not agree to the increases demanded. I am having these cases investigated at present and, if the circumstances as a whole should, in my opinion, warrant action being taken, I shall make a recommendation accordingly to the Government without delay.