The more than 400,000 people living in the private rental sector in the State will “remain voiceless”, as no renters’ rights activists have been included on the new Housing Commission.
This is the view of Labour Galway City West councillor, Niall McNelis, who said it was “disappointing”, and a clear sign that “renters' rights will not be forming a significant part of the debate”.
.
The Commission was up to examine long-term housing policy issues, but the former mayor said that “without a voice at the table”, it was “inevitable” that some of “the most vulnerable people in the housing market” will continue to experience “the consequences of ill-thought through policy”.
The Labour Party has called for greater security of tenure, a rent freeze, and better standards of accommodation, and Cllr McNelis said renters need a voice as they have been “ignored by policy makers as their numbers have expanded”.
