10.5 per cent annual rent increases in Kildare ‘shows government has no plan for private-rental sector’, TD says

A TD representing County Kildare has criticised the government over 'eye watering' rent increases.

Sinn Féin TD Réada Cronin said that increases in the county 'shows that the government has no plan for a private-rental sector that is spiralling out of control.'

She made the comments following the publication of RTB's Q4 2023 Rent Report, which showed that new rents in Kildare rose by 10.5 per cent last year, and existing rents rose by 5.7 per cent.

Elaborating on her views, Ms Cronin said: "Average new rents in Kildare overall are now 1,633 a month and existing rents are 1,362 a month.

"Obviously, rents in North Kildare are far higher with people on good wages struggling to find any properties at all, never mind properties that are affordable... this is bad news for renters, with rents soaring and the number of properties declining."

She continued: "It’s absolutely impossible now for single people to find a place to live where they are not having to share.

"Who wants to be house-sharing into their mid-30s and 40s? This is not good for individuals and not good for society."

Réada Cronin TD, Sinn Féin. File photograph.

"How are regular workers in North Kildare expected to pay whopping rents and also manage to have a life and save for a deposit to buy their own place?

"Month on month, year on year, rents continue to rise for new and existing tenants, inside and outside rent pressure zones."

Ms Cronin further said: "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.

"More importantly, we need the 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 the government and, many of these were too expensive for most working people."

Ms Cronin concluded her statement by saying: "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."