'Urgent' need for rent regulation- ADPD say
'The right to adequate accommodation at reasonable rates is sacrosanct' ADPD said
The Green Party said there is an “urgent” need for regulation to protect renters, following a report on rental affordability.
“The rental market has exploded, and the greed for money is great, but the right to adequate accommodation at reasonable rates is sacrosanct. There is an urgent need for regulation that protects the rights of the renter,” ADPD said.
The statement comes after a report published by tenants’ rights union Solidarjetà.
The report found that mid-priced rental properties, even in the cheapest localities, are often "unaffordable" for households on salaries of €40,000.
The study compared wages, rental prices and assistance eligibility against the aims of a Housing Authority rental subsidy scheme, which states that renters should spend no more than 25 per cent of their income on rent.
Reacting, ADPD said there is not enough control over rental rates or how they are established.
“Prices are randomly set and this is one major problem,” the party said.
“Although the government has taken the initiative to control this problem, the abuse has not stopped. The law of the jungle dominates, and there is no law which outlines the criteria for setting rent, such as property size, energy efficiency and access to amenities.”
The Green Party also pointed to the proliferation of short-term lets and the increase in population as reasons for rising rent prices.
The Green party added that many people have no other alternative but to rent.
"There are those who do not qualify for a bank loan to purchase their own home, whilst others find themselves in financial difficulties after a separation or divorce".
Workers on a low income are also excluded from the property market, the party added.