Social housing rents must be reviewed in the light of the current “cost of living crisis”, especially as the Galway City Council has the power to do this.
This is the view of the Social Democrats’ Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who called for a review of social housing rents at Monday’s city council meeting.
"People are at breaking point. The cost of food, fuel, and heating have been affected by inflation and all indications are that prices will continue to increase” he said. “It is those with the least disposable income feeling this the worst, and many Council tenants are at the cold face of this hardship."
Local authorities have the power to review and re-set rents, and it is understood the executive of the Galway City Council is considering Cllr Hanley’s proposal.
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Cllr Hanley [pictured above] said increasing taxes on vacant properties could be utilised to off-set any budget reductions that resulted from a rent review. He is also calling on the Government to financially support councils to introduce rent freezes, or rent relief for tenants, as a targeted intervention of support
"The interventions from the Government earlier in the year did not have a serious impact for many families and workers hit hardest by the current squeeze,” he said. “The current price of rents in Galway is a disaster.
"The cost of rent is already unaffordable, if it continues to rise we will be sending a message to an entire generation that they should leave. If the State can act on the cost of housing in a significant way then we can reduce overall costs to households."
