'Rip-off' - Tipperary tenants could see rents increase under new Government Bill, says Sinn Féin

Cathaoirleach of North Tipperary Sinn Féin, Dan Harty has said that the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Lowry Rent Bill will mean renters in Tipperary could see rents jump by €3,396 a year.

Mr Harty said the government has ‘shafted’ renters with these new rules, as landlords will be allowed to hike up the rents of 60,000 people every year.

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He said Sinn Féin will oppose this legislation tooth and nail, adding: “We need to end the rip- off, ban rent increases and make rents affordable”.

Mr Harty said: “Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Independent’s Rent Hike Bill will allow vulture funds and big landlords to hike up the rents of 60,000 people every year. This will mean paying thousands more in rent from March 1st.

“This is the most profound change to rent regulation in a decade which will allow landlords to reset rents to market rates at the start of new tenancies and every six years after that. From March 1st of this year, more and more renters will be subject to this new market rent reset rule, meaning already unaffordable rents will be hiked up even further.

“For renters in Tipperary, this means rent hikes of €3,396 a year - a shocking 32.1% increase compared to current average rents.

“Across the state, this means rents could jump by an average €3,000 a year.

“This is truly scandalous. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Lowry led Independents have shafted renters yet again. They are being made to pay the price for the government’s failed housing policy.

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“Government should be focused on bringing rents down, not caving in to the demands of vulture funds and big landlords for ever higher rents.

“Sinn Féin will oppose this legislation tooth and nail. Rents in Tipperary are already too high,
renters simply cannot take further hikes.

“We need to end the rip-off, ban rent increases and make rents affordable.

“Stop the government’s Rent Hike Bill.”