Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has demanded that the Government ban rent increases in the private rental sector as rents continue to spiral upwards in Laois.
The call was made as the latest Daft.ie rent report shows rents rising by 10.9% in Laois over the last 12 months.
Deputy Stanley said: “This latest Daft.ie report shows rents continuing to spiral upwards.
“New rents are up 10.9%% in Laois over the last 12 months.
“An average new home rental in Laois is now €1,422. This is totally unaffordable for people on ordinary incomes in both counties.
“Renters in Laois/Offaly desperately need a break. It is time for Government to take up Sinn Féin’s proposal to ban rent increases for three years and to put a full month’s rent back into every private renter’s pocket through a refundable tax credit.
“Government must also increase and accelerate the delivery of affordable rental and purchase homes.
“No homes have become available either under the affordable to buy or affordable rent schemes.
“People in Laois who are suffering under the housing crisis can’t keep waiting for this out of touch government to act.
“The longer Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil stay in office, the worse things are becoming.
“We need at least 8,000 genuinely affordable homes a year across the state to meet current need as outlined in Sinn Féin’s Alternative Housing Budget for 2024.”
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