Labour aims to stop ‘slumlords running roughshod over renters’ rights’

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Government has failed renters dramatically, Labour said as it launched a “renters’ protection plan”.

The party said there is an “urgent need to bolster RTB powers” as it also set out an ambition to see a “professionalisation” of the relationship between landlords and tenants.

Councillor Darragh Moriarty said “chronic undersupply” in housing is leading to average rents of €1,950 nationwide.

He said rents in Dublin are up 5 per cent in the last year, adding that rates nationally are also 43 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels.

Speaking in Dublin, the councillor said: “That is just shocking and it shows exactly why the runaway rents that we’re seeing need to be brought into line, and that’s why we’re proposing a series of measures to try and combat that and to protect renters.”

Mr Moriarty, running in Dublin South Central, said Labour’s plan includes an NCT-style certification to enforce minimum standards on rental accommodation, a ban on no-fault evictions, end vacant possession and a curtailment on landlords evicting tenants for their own extended family.

He added: “We want it so that tenants can only be evicted when the home or the property is not fit for habitation. Basically, you can’t evict someone just to do up the place a little bit.”

Mr Moriarty also said Labour would tackle rental properties being illegally used for the private short-term tourism market.

He said: “But it is building. It is building, building, building. It is tackling dereliction, tackling vacancies, getting lands that are sitting there doing nothing used for good.”

He added: “(Fine Gael Minister) Paschal Donohoe said we need more landlords. We don’t disagree with that – but we don’t need slumlords.

“That’s what we have to stop: Stop slumlords from being able to ride roughshod all over renters’ rights.”