Michael Noonan: New laws can prevent rent hikes BEFORE rent controls come in
The Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has said that new laws can be rushed through to stop landlords from hiking rents on vulnerable tenants.
Michael Noonan was responding to reports that some landlords are already increasing rent before they can be stopped by new regulations.
The Government's new housing proposals will only allow increases every two years, leading some landlords to increase rents now, before the rules kick in.
However, Mr Noonan said tenants would be protected under other laws.
"Alan Kelly will be able to do these things under law…He will be able to make legal arrangements to prevent (that practice) happening," he said.
Two year rent freeze. That must be why my landlord asked for an 18% increase this week. #TodaySOR
— Donal O’Keeffe (@Donal_OKeeffe) November 6, 2015
@colettebrowne Completely. As soon as this idea was floated,my landlord got in touch about an increase...
— Kathryn Milligan (@katymilligan) November 6, 2015
Just got an email from my landlord putting up the rent because of Alan Kelly's botched attempt to introduce rent controls. Fantastic.
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) November 6, 2015
Meanwhile, the Private Residential Tenancies Board reminded tenants that rent cannot be increased within 12 months of a tenancy beginning, or within 12 months of the last increase.
In a statement it also says it is illegal for landlords to ask for more than the 'market rent' - which is the amount that a willing tenant would be wiling to pay for a similar property in a similar place.
