Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016
19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether rent controls are urgently needed considering the further dramatic increases in rent in Dublin and other urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35477/16]
View answer23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he plans to take to deal with the escalating rise in rents in the private rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35431/16]
View answer34. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce emergency rent controls in view of the fastest increase in rents on record in reports (details supplied) predicting further large increases over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35471/16]
View answer35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce rent certainty measures, along the lines of those in Germany which cap rents for new tenancies at 10% above the existing rental benchmarks, particularly in view of the recent figures from his Department which show that the number of homeless families in Dublin has surpassed 1,000 for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35484/16]
View answer40. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce an amendment to the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill to provide for rent certainty in view of the recent data from a company (details supplied) which shows ever increasing rental costs. [35439/16]
View answer51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce measures to link rent during a tenancy to the annual percentage change in the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35485/16]
View answer52. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, in view of the recent figures indicating large increases in private rental costs in each of our cities, he will propose to the Government that rent increases should be controlled by, for example, linking them to the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/16]
View answer53. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposals other than increasing supply, he is considering to try to stem inflation in rent prices in the private rental sector in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35470/16]
View answer58. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a report in a newspaper (details supplied) stating that rent certainty will not be included in the forthcoming strategy for the private rental sector is accurate. [35463/16]
View answer60. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to regulate the rental market by linking rents to the consumer price index; his further plans to make secure rents and protection for tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35475/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 23, 34, 35, 40, 51 to 53, inclusive, 58 and 60 together.
The significant increases in rents that we are seeing currently, particularly in urban areas, are caused, primarily, by a severe shortage in supply. The best way to address rents in the long term, and benefit the entire sector, is to increase the supply of rental accommodation and accelerate also the delivery of housing for the private and social rented sectors. However, I acknowledge that there is a need for short-term measures also.
Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector. The strategy will include measures to address immediate issues affecting the supply, cost and accessibility of accommodation. In addition, the strategy will consider measures to increase security of tenure and, in particular, the potential of new mechanisms for both setting and reviewing rents. There will also be a focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply.
The strategy will provide a vision of the role that the rental sector will play in the short, medium and long term in the context of the Government’s overall objectives for the housing sector. I expect it to be finalised before the end of the year.
Some of the measures in the rental strategy will require supporting amendments to be made to the Residential Tenancies Act. However, other legislative changes are being accelerated for early enactment in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016, which commenced Second Stage in the Seanad yesterday. Tenants and landlords alike will therefore see a number of improvements in place arising from these legislative provisions.
The key challenge is to ensure the development of a viable and sustainable rental sector that can provide choice, quality, value and security for households together with secure, attractive investment opportunities for rental providers.
