IMPACT and other trade unions have joined with campaign organization Uplift to seek improved tenant protections and security of tenure. A new ‘secure rents’ campaign is petitioning the Government to regulate rent increases by linking them to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The campaign was launched last week in response to the escalating rent crisis. Other unions involved include the Communications’ Workers Union (CWU), Mandate, Siptu and Unite.
The campaign petition calls on housing minister Simon Coveney to:
- Regulate rent increases by linking them to the CPI
- Revoke the right of landlords to evict tenants for the purpose of sale
- Move from current four-year leases to indefinite lease terms.
Speaking at the Dublin launch of the campaign, IMPACT lead organiser Joe O’Connor said: “After years of excessive rent increases thousands of workers, students, parents and children are struggling to keep a roof over their head due to unaffordable rents. Many more have seen their living standards and disposable income cut to the bone.
“Without Government intervention, the situation is set to get a lot worse. People are at the end of what they can cope with. On a societal level we can no longer tolerate a situation where working people often spend more than half their income keeping a roof over their heads.
“Economically, it is imperative that people have spending money left over after rent day to support local businesses. Morally, we cannot allow any more of our citizens to be driven into homelessness.”
The campaign includes an online calculator which allows tenants to calculate how much rent they are likely to pay in five years’ time based on what they are currently paying and projected future increases.
Find out more from the campaign leaflet.
