THE latest quarterly data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows that rents are up 7.2 per cent in Limerick City in the past year alone.
And local Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan believes the statistics show the rent pressure zone in Limerick City has been a “total failure”.
“The latest quarterly data from the Residential Tenancies Board shows that rents are up 7.2 per cent in Limerick City in the past year alone, despite the rent pressure zone legislation supposedly limiting annual increases to four per cent,” he said.
“This increase in Limerick City rents is clearly in breach of the legal cap, yet Minister Murphy claims this shows rent stabilisation. It’s abundantly clear the rent pressure zone in Limerick City has been a total failure.”
Deputy Quinlivan is of the view that rent pressure zones aren’t working in Limerick or elsewhere across the State.
“I don’t know what planet Minister Murphy, or this government are living on. The Minister is delusional if he thinks they are going to help renters facing huge costs,” he claimed.
“What we need to do is reduce and freeze rents. The Sinn Féin rent freeze bill, introduced by my colleague Eoin Ó Broin TD, that will do just that.
“It passed the second stage debate in the Dáil last Thursday, with huge cross-party support and it must be now progressed by this government.
“We also need to see investment in affordable cost rental projects to offer renters a long-term solution.”
