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Call for protection for renters to be extended until the end of the year

Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin says protection for renters needs to be extended ...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

15.48 17 Jul 2020


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Call for protection for renter...

Call for protection for renters to be extended until the end of the year

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

15.48 17 Jul 2020


Share this article


Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin says protection for renters needs to be extended until the end of the year.

Rents are to remain frozen and evictions banned beyond the original deadline of July 20th.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien says he is also working with department officials and the Attorney-General on long-term solutions.

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It comes amid reports of a legal battle between Minister O'Brien and the Attorney-General over plans to extend the rents freeze to later in the year.

But Deputy O’Brion told Newstalk Breakfast more certainty is needed.

"We are three days out from when the ban on evictions is to end and we don't know for long it's going to be extended and on what grounds.

"And that creates huge uncertainty both for tenants and for landlords.

"I've argued for some time that the ban needs to be extended, not just till October, but to the end of the year.

"Because a very, very large number of people who've lost their jobs because of COVID-19 are young renters in sectors of the economy that because of the health emergency won't be able to get back to work until next year.

"So they need protection."

"But let's be under no doubt: the restrictions on work for people in hospitality, in entertainment, in aviation and construction are going to continue because of the public health emergency until the end of the year, and renters in those circumstances need protection".

"We also need a mechanism to deal with the significant level of rent arrears debt that has been built up.

"The banks aren't doing enough to assist landlords - they're charging them high interest and extra interest for mortgage payment holidays.

"The Government isn't doing enough to promote rent supplements for people who have been temporarily laid off.

"And I think there needs to be much more dialogue between opposition, Government and representatives of both tenant, landlord and banking organisations to ensure we do this right".

Margaret McCormack is spokesperson with the Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA).

She warns that these protections are also hindering her members from removing unruly tenants.

"It is a ridiculous situation, we have one set of society being treated differently to another set in society.

"We have people who desperately need to get their property back, this is people who've come back into the country to work on the frontline with medical workers, as medical workers who let their property went abroad.

"And they can't serve the notice to get their property back.

"We have situations around anti-social behaviour, we have parties distressing neighbours and other tenants, we have had fights in the streets, we have assaults.

"We have a huge amount of different breaches in the sector.

"When I say huge I mean that normally we have a percentage of behaviours and those behaviours are addressed.

"At this stage, anybody that is misbehaving is protected by legislation - so we can't take any of the steps.

"As a result of that our members are under huge pressure from the neighbours that are being disturbed, from other tenants who are being threatened and living in accommodation - and they have to move because we are protecting the people that don't need to be protected".

Mr O'Broin said: "I take Margaret's concerns very seriously, and I think those issues could be addressed by some very simple amendments to the emergency legislation that would, for example, allow notice to quit in cases of anti-social behaviour".

Call for protection for renters to be extended until the end of the year

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Main image: Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin speaking to the media on the plinth at Leinster House. Picture by: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

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Attorney General Ban On Evictions Covid-19 Eoin O Broin Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien Irish Property Owners Association Margaret McCormack Newstalk Breakfast Rent Freezes Renters

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