Labour calls for urgent protection of renters

Labour calls for urgent protection of renters

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called for immediate action to protect renters after the publication of Threshold's impact report today, which revealed a 17.5% increase in the number of households seeking assistance compared to last year. This disturbing rise highlights the precarious and increasingly difficult situation that renters in Ireland are facing, with tenants living in fear of eviction, rent hikes, and substandard accommodation.

Deputy Bacik said:

"The findings in Threshold's report paint a grim picture of life for renters in Ireland today. The fact that so many tenants are reaching out about tenancy terminations, which Threshold has described this as 'concerning,' but I would go further-this is a crisis. We have repeatedly called for an eviction ban, not because it's a silver bullet, but because it's an essential first step to give renters the security they desperately need right now.

"The issues being raised by tenants-housing standards, repairs, rent reviews, and rent increases-are consistent with what we're hearing on the ground as we canvass across the country. People are being squeezed by unaffordable rent hikes, often after paying rent at a particular level for years. Many fear eviction simply for raising legitimate concerns about the poor quality of their accommodation, which is an ongoing and unacceptable issue.

"With political will, renters' rights can and must be strengthened. Three years ago, the Labour Party proposed the Renters' Rights Bill in the Dáil. This Bill would have delivered real security of tenure by restricting the grounds on which a landlord can terminate a tenancy. It would have abolished so-called 'no fault' evictions, and crucially, it would have stopped landlords from evicting tenants simply because they intend to sell the property. It would also have ensured that tenants are only evicted for renovations when absolutely necessary.

"Our Bill also tackled rent transparency, ending the practice of landlords demanding more than one month's rent for deposits and declaring the entire State a rent pressure zone. We wanted to make sure that renters could see exactly what rent was paid by previous tenants and what, if any, refurbishments had been carried out to justify rent increases.

"Equally important, our Bill aimed to raise the quality of rental accommodation by bringing rental laws into the 21st century. It would have introduced model tenancy agreements, which would have stopped landlords from imposing unreasonable restrictions like banning clothes drying in outdoor spaces or prohibiting pets. It would have given tenants the right to opt for unfurnished homes, allowing them to create a long-term home, which is particularly vital for families."

Deputy Bacik also pointed to the long-standing failures of the current Government:

"For too long, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have stood with landlords, while renters pay sky-high rents with little to no security of tenure. We lag behind other European countries when it comes to renters' rights, and it's time for that to change. This Government's developer-led mindset is not the solution. Private development will not fix our housing crisis, and it's time the Government stopped pretending that it will.

"With the General Election looming, it's clear that this Government is on the side of landlords, not tenants. Labour will continue to fight for real change-because every renter deserves the right to a secure, affordable home."