Rose Conway-Walsh: Labels Bill a 'Rip-off Rent Hike' and Opposes It
Rose Conway-Walsh criticised a government bill she called a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'rip-off rent hike' and said Sinn Féin will oppose it. She argued the bill's market reset would allow landlords to raise rents to full market levels between tenancies, worsening the cost-of-living crisis and benefiting institutional investors.
Main accusation
She accused the government of facilitating rent increases rather than cutting rents, calling the bill a gift to big institutional investors and a tear-up of existing protections.
Market reset and landlord gains
At the centre of the bill, she said, is the so-called market reset - allowing landlords to hike rents to full market levels between tenancies, not tied to inflation but to whatever the market can squeeze out of people.
Impact on students and families
She warned students would be worst hit, saying from September those entering the private rental sector will face immediate market resets. She argued commuting is not an option for many and parents will be forced to absorb extortionate rents alongside food, fuel, fees and childcare.
County Mayo figures
She cited tenancy figures in County Mayo, saying new tenancies average 1,181 compared to 949 for existing ones - a 232 increase every month, nearly 2,800 over a year and a 24% rise.
Sinn Féin demands and opposition
She said Sinn Féin is calling for rents to be cut and for an emergency three-year ban on rent increases, and that the party will oppose the bill because it does the opposite of providing relief to renters.
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Minister, this bill must be called out for what it is. It's a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rip-off rent hike bill and it must be stopped. And I'll tell you the reasons why. The government should be cutting rents, not facilitating them to rise even further. Rents are already out of control, ministers, and renters are drowning in a cost-of-living crisis. And yet the government's response is to tear up what little protection remains and hand a gift to big institutional investors. Now, at the centre of this bill is the so-called market reset, allowing landlords to hike rents to full market levels between tenancies. Not inflation, but whatever the market can squeeze out of people. And students will be the worst hit. I have talked to so many students about this. From September, students entering the private rental sector will face immediate market resets. Immediate market resets and what they're paying already. For families in Mayo, this is absolutely devastating and nothing short of daylight, robbery and extortion. Commuting simply isn't an option for most students and for students in rural Ireland. Parents have no choice but to pay whatever rent is demanded, no matter how extortionate. How are parents expected to absorb this on top of the food, fuel, fees and childcare for younger children? How many students will be priced out of education altogether? Moving on to the figures for tenancies in County Mayo which speak for themselves. New tenancies average 1,181, comparing to 949 for existing ones. That's 232 extra every single month or nearly 2,800 over a year. A 24% increase and that your government is happy to stand over is just unbelievable. The bill bids farewell to the modest protections of the rent pressure zones with tenancies lasting an average of just three and a half years. Within a short few years, most renters will be caught out by this reset. Renters and families need a break. Sinn Féin is calling for the rents to be cut and for an emergency three-year ban on rent increases. The bill does exactly the opposite and that is why, Minister, we will oppose it.
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