Brian Stanley: Fianna Fáil's laissez-faire caused rent crisis
Brian Stanley accuses the Minister and Fianna Fáil of pursuing laissez-faire housing policies that have driven skyrocketing rents, more evictions and rising homelessness. He sets out urgent demands including a ban on evictions, an emergency halt to rent increases and a ramp-up in cost-rental and social housing.
Brian Stanley addresses the Dáil to argue that current government changes in rent rules have worsened the housing emergency. He says laissez-faire policy has given a charter to landlords and developers and is producing higher rents, more notices to quit and growing homelessness.
Stanley highlights sharp recent increases in advertised rents and house prices: he names a 12.5% rise for four-bedroom houses, a 10% rise for three-beds and a 34% jump for a two-bedroom in the last year, and cites specific advertised monthly rents. He warns that low- and middle-income workers can no longer afford homes.
The speech describes constituents arriving traumatised, families being moved away from schools and services, and homeless shortages that force people into distant counties. Stanley frames the crisis as affecting renters, the homeless and house buyers alike.
He calls for an immediate ban on evictions for tenants who are complying with their tenancy agreements, an emergency ban on rent increases, rapid delivery of cost-rental homes by local authorities and approved housing bodies with secure tenancies, reform of affordable-to-purchase schemes, and an increase in social housing supply. He warns the current approach cannot continue and says the situation is getting worse.
Key allegation and immediate demand
Brian Stanley addresses the Dáil to argue that current government changes in rent rules have worsened the housing emergency. He says laissez-faire policy has given a charter to landlords and developers and is producing higher rents, more notices to quit and growing homelessness.
Evidence and statistics cited
Stanley highlights sharp recent increases in advertised rents and house prices: he names a 12.5% rise for four-bedroom houses, a 10% rise for three-beds and a 34% jump for a two-bedroom in the last year, and cites specific advertised monthly rents. He warns that low- and middle-income workers can no longer afford homes.
Local impact and human cost
The speech describes constituents arriving traumatised, families being moved away from schools and services, and homeless shortages that force people into distant counties. Stanley frames the crisis as affecting renters, the homeless and house buyers alike.
Policy prescriptions and consequences
He calls for an immediate ban on evictions for tenants who are complying with their tenancy agreements, an emergency ban on rent increases, rapid delivery of cost-rental homes by local authorities and approved housing bodies with secure tenancies, reform of affordable-to-purchase schemes, and an increase in social housing supply. He warns the current approach cannot continue and says the situation is getting worse.
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Transcript
Thanks Ciarán and in support of the motion I have to say Minister that the laissez-faire policies that you're pursuing have led us to this and you're looking and if you've read history which I'm sure you have in the 1840s they led to mass evictions and mass starvation. It was pioneered by Sir Sir Charles Trevelyan British autocrat and this time it's been pioneered by your party, Fianna Fáil, by Fianna Fáil. Hands off rent, charge whatever you can get and the more get evicted and the more homelessness there is and the bigger demand the higher the rents that the landlords can charge. It's happening. The situation continues to get worse. In-leash rents are sky-high, notices to quit are up, homelessness is up, house purchase prices are up and what you've done is you've given a charter to landlords and developers. The government changes in rent rules have made the situation completely worse. It's screwed workers and families. I have an increasing number of constituents coming to me, as I'm sure others have had, traumatised and at their wits end. It's worse for renters, worse for the homeless and it's worse for house buyers. On top of the sharp rent increases in the last decade in leash there's of course we have another jump now, huge jump. A four bedroom house twelve and a half percent has gone up in the last twelve months. Now it's two and a half thousand a month, that's what they're being advertised for. Three bed is up ten percent in the past year. They're being charged almost two thousand euros on average. And wait for this one, a two-bedroomed house, Ciancora, gone up a whopping 34 percent. 34 percent Minister, one year. That's laissez-faire, your laissez-faire policies have allowed that to happen. Low and middle income workers simply cannot afford that. House prices are completely out of control and literally gone to the roof. A standard house in Portlaoise now being advertised in one estate, five hundred and thirty thousand. Not in central London, centre of Portlaoise. Lack of availability of affordable homes is one of the factors driving that. As I said to you, homelessness continues to increase, shortage of homeless accommodation means dying in leash. Families are being sent to Tipperary and other counties, away from vital services and schools and we need urgent solutions for low and middle income families. An immediate ban on evictions for tenants who are complying with their tenancy agreements. What's wrong with that? An emergency ban on rent increases are already sky-high. Increase the delivery of cost rental homes by local authorities and approved housing bodies, not-for-profit ones, and people have secure lifetime tenancies. And reform the affordable to purchase housing scheme. That needs to be reformed along with increasing the supply of social housing. I'm saying to you respectfully, you cannot continue like this. This is getting worse.