Local Sinn Féin Deputy Sorca Clarke has said that eye-watering rent increases in County Westmeath show that the Government has no plan for a private rental sector that is spiralling out of control.
Her comments were made as the RTB published their Q4 2023 Rent Report showing new rents in Westmeath up 16% and existing rents up 7.7%.
“The latest RTB rent report shows a private rental sector continuing to spiral out of control,” she warned. “Average new rents in Westmeath are now €1,250 a year and existing rents are €929 a year.
“For renters, this means rents continue to spiral out of control while supply continues to contract.
“How are regular working people in Westmeath expected to afford these rents? How are they to save for a deposit to buy a home? Month on month, year on year, rents continue to rise for new and existing tenants and inside and outside rent pressure zones.
“It is clear that the Government has no plan for a private rental sector spiralling out of control. Their renters tax credit is simply not enough. We need an emergency ban on rent increases for three years and a full month’s rent back in every private renter’s pocket, but, more importantly, we need Government to dramatically increase investment in and delivery of genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy.
“Last year, just 1,000 affordable homes were delivered by Government and many of these were too expensive for most working people.
“Only a change of Government, with Eoin Ó Broin as Housing Minister, will truly address the housing crisis. Voting for Sinn Féin on June 7 in the local and European elections is the first step to getting this disastrous Government out of office, and undoing decades of disastrous Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy,” Teachta Clarke said.
