{"id":16644,"date":"2020-09-11T12:20:51","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T16:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=16644"},"modified":"2020-09-13T10:22:01","modified_gmt":"2020-09-13T14:22:01","slug":"sinn-fein-introduces-bill-to-freeze-rents-for-three-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=16644","title":{"rendered":"Sinn F\u00e9in Introduces Bill To Freeze Rents For Three Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sinn F\u00e9in is tabling a Bill next week that would ban future rent increases for three years.<\/p>\n

The party said the Ban on Rent Increases Bill would also allow rent to fall during the same period.<\/p>\n

A temporary ban on evictions and rent increases was first introduced during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Since the end of July, there has been a ban on evicting people who are not able to pay their rent because of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

The legislation, which is in place until January, also bans increases for renters receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) or the wage subsidy scheme.<\/p>\n

Eoin \u00d3 Broin, Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s housing spokesman, called for Fianna F\u00e1il and the Green Party to back the Bill.<\/p>\n

The latest Daft.ie<\/a> rent report in June showed that average new rents across the State were \u20ac1,412 per month, while in Dublin average new rents were \u20ac2,030 per month.<\/p>\n

This represents an annual increase of 1% and 0.2% compared with 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the rate annually has slowed down, rents are still rising year on year,\u201d Mr \u00d3 Broin added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a problem before Covid-19, but with people on PUP payments, on Wage Subsidy Schemes, or struggling with increased cost of living, it\u2019s time for government to take action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last Private Member\u2019s Bill that we had passed was a rent freeze Bill that was passed with the support of Fianna F\u00e1il and the Green Party.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Bill is slightly different in that it bans rent increases and it would allow rents to fall, and we would urge all TDs that are serious about helping renters to support the Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed to an ESRI report published on Thursday which found that commuting longer distances for cheaper rental properties can harm mental health.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh rents are forcing working people make to a Hobson\u2019s choice of either very long commutes for cheaper rental areas, or high rents and a lower standard of living,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He said the Bill would mean landlords could not increase rents for three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny professional landlord running a professional business is able to make a return on current rents,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe measures we are proposing provides certainty and stability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are willing to go to the courts to stand by renters. While we believe this Bill is constitutional, if that wasn\u2019t the case or was challenged, we would defend that challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

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