asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether, in view of the excessive rents at present being charged for such houses, he intends introducing legislation to extend the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1946, to houses erected after or in course of erection on the 7th May, 1941.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extension of Rent Restrictions Act.
My Department has received no complaints about the charging of excessive rents for newly-built houses. In fact, the general impression is, I think, that during recent years there has been little, if any, building by private enterprise of houses for letting, the vast majority of newlybuilt houses having been disposed of by sale to intending occupiers. In the circumstances, and apart from other considerations that would necessarily enter into the matter, I do not propose to introduce legislation to extend rent control to houses erected after, or in course of erection on, the 7th May, 1941.
Is it not realised that the reason why very few houses are available for renting is that the rents asked for are so high that it is more economic for intending occupiers to buy houses; that there have been numerous houses built since 1941 the rents charged for which have been 400 or 500 per cent. in excess of the rents charged pre-war? Is there not a case therefore to be examined?
That is a different question. There is a case to be examined, but I am not going to do it at the moment.