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RTÉ

RTÉ says it's striving to improve Player amid complaints about 'frustrating' and 'ridiculous' service

“To say this is frustrating would be a gross understatement,” one viewer wrote.

RTÉ HAS SAID it constantly strives to improve the user experience of its online Player service amid complaints about the service not working properly.

A spokesperson said the national broadcaster tries to improve the experience from a technical point of view, as well as through adding new content.

Several complaints sent to RTÉ from September to November have been released to TheJournal.ie via a Freedom of Information request.

Viewers described the Player as “an embarrassment”, “ridiculous”, and the “worst streaming app I’ve ever used”.

In an email sent to RTÉ on 8 November, one viewer wrote: “I would like to register my disappointment at how poorly the RTÉ Player works.

“Considering the challenges facing you as a broadcaster and the changing habits of us viewers, I would have considered that the Player would have been getting the most attention from management.

“However what I, as a (TV) licence payer, get is a third rate excuse for a player.”

The person said they have no issues watching other online players, adding that the quality of the RTÉ service is “hard to understand considering the resources that are being given to RTÉ”.

“I’m also embarrassed because as our national broadcaster it gives the impression that we can’t do things correctly, especially when public funding is provided.”

In another email, sent to RTÉ on 1 November, a viewer said they tried to watch the Player but it “kept freezing”. They said the situation was “very frustrating”.

“Before you ask about the connection, the ads ran perfectly every time I had to retry. It’s not the first time it has happened … I hope you can fix it soon,” they added.

‘Dark ages’

In an email sent on 26 October, one viewer said the Player was “completely useless” and the ads loop in an “endless” fashion.

“It stops/starts and freezes all the time and is unable to play (a) show from start to finish. I’ve tried to update the app but this does not improve anything.

“I find it interesting that there is never an issue with the pre-programme or interval advertising. The issue only occurs with programme content.”

The person said they have been paying their TV licence for over 20 years, adding: “This is utterly unacceptable and I feel completely ripped off.”

On 5 October, one person wrote that they are “a major RTÉ fan” but that the Player is “the worst streaming app I’ve ever used”.

They said they tried to watch the Taoiseach’s address to the nation that night, but had to give up as the Player “kept stopping and replaying seconds just played”.

“This is not an isolated incident,” they added. “I really hope it is updated as it is such an asset to RTÉ once it works properly.”

On 17 September, one viewer wrote: “It was my first time watching anything on RTÉ Player for quite a while and I soon remembered why.

“The show CONSTANTLY stopped to buffer and the picture quality was terrible. This was also the case with previous shows I watched on RTÉ Player.

“I have a good internet connection and I never have any issues with any other streaming service.

“To say this is frustrating would be a gross understatement. I have always paid my licence fee on time. I hardly ever watch anything on RTÉ and it makes me very angry that the few shows I do want to watch are completely unwatchable for me.”

On 5 September, a viewer said the quality of the RTÉ Player, when compared to other streaming services, makes “Ireland look like we are in the dark ages”.

ISL issues

On 19 October, one person raised concerns about the Irish Sign language (ISL) function not working on the Player.

They wrote: “My family and I are users of the Irish Sign Language, this being the first and only language of some of my family.

“We have found the ISL interpretation of many RTÉ programmes to be really great in the past, and it is one of the only means in which we can watch them. Recently, the ISL functionality has broken on the RTÉ Player, and we cannot now access any of the ISL programmes.”

The viewer asked that the issue be addressed as a priority.

“There are many users of ISL in Ireland, and we are now not able to watch any programmes from RTÉ which is hugely disappointing during these times,” they wrote.

When asked about the issues raised by viewers, a spokesperson for RTÉ said the Player has a support team “that works 365 days a year and logs all feedback on the service”.

“These issues are then escalated to our technical teams,” they added.

The spokesperson also noted: “We constantly strive to improve the user experience both technically and by adding new content through live exclusives, box sets and longer catch-up rights from TV broadcast.”

In relation to the ISL problem, the spokesperson said RTÉ Player “works closely with representatives from access services groups to continue to improve the service”.

“This year following, consultation on users who prefer to watch Irish Sign Language (ISL) programmes, we introduced new features that make it easier to find content with this feature and easier to select the option. The feedback has been very positive and we aim to introduce more features in 2021.”

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82 Comments
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    Mute Rian Smallbone
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:37 PM

    So their Vulture Fund and Corporate Landlord buddies can increase their obscene profits.

    228
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    Mute Rian Smallbone
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:39 PM

    @Rian Smallbone: In Jan the first thing the FFG/Lowry Group Gov did was create new Junior Housing Ministers., what have they been at for last 6 months?

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    Mute Rian Smallbone
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:40 PM

    @Rian Smallbone: Was it them that came up with the idea of a Housing‘Tzar’ ?

    69
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    Mute Tony
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:59 PM

    It’s obvious, most of them are landlords and they have prioritised investment funds over citizens.

    111
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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:06 PM

    @Tony: A landlord borrows money to house strangers. What are YOU doing to house strangers. ?

    17
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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:17 PM

    @thomas molloy: Landlords are in effect businesses and the sole objective is to extract as much money as possible from punters. Nice try doe.

    39
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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:41 PM

    “Follow the money…”

    96
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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:03 PM

    @William Tallon: When property to let is financed it is widely don with the loan repayments being covered by the rent. When interest rates increase the letting starts to loose money. In our case we had financed the housing with borrowing at 3% and then rates went up to 5.5% which is nearly a 45% increase in servicing the loan while an increase of only 2% in rent was allowed. We sold up almost all of our lettings and returned the money to the bank. Go follow that money. Never again.

    25
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    Mute Dereck
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    Jun 9th 2025, 6:36 PM

    @thomas molloy: And this is precisely why the parties of landlords i.e. FFG want to abolished RPZs while at the same time keeping the number of rental properties down. To create a risk free, profit guaranteed investment opportunity for themselves and their friends. Landlords are in it for the profit, that’s fair enough, but when you invest money you’ll always take a risk of losing it. To eliminate that risk FFG rather manipulate the rental market than ensure that enough affordable supply is available.

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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Jun 9th 2025, 11:44 PM

    @thomas molloy: Investments can go up as well as down.

    4
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    Mute James Carolan
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:34 PM

    Here is my opinion…I believe landlords are just fueled by greed and what I mean by that is that they were quite happy to receive e.g. €1000 for their property per month a few years ago and now they want €2500 pm for the same property that still has the same mortgage on it (if any). To me that’s just pure greed in a housing crisis while this FFG government still fail to attempt to resolve this problem.

    92
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    Mute George Bowling
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:48 PM

    @James Carolan: if you were happy to sell a car for 1,000 but someone offered you 2,500 for it how much would you sell your car for?

    17
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    Mute DAN TEDSON
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:51 PM

    @James Carolan: here’s an insight for you Jimbo, ALL businesses are ‘fueled by greed’. Tesco aren’t REALLY trying to help ‘every little bit’. But if we made the supermarket sector uncompetitive by constant government interference then there would be fewer of them and consequently higher prices for everyone.

    14
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    Mute Concerned Driver
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    Jun 9th 2025, 1:57 PM

    Regarding our household the RPZ was very important and I would go as far as saying it was a lifeline. Without RPZ, the rent would currently be 29.57% more expensive.
    In real terms, that means that without RPZ in place we would need to either:
    - move out as the rent increase would unsustainable which in consequence would have negative impact on our lives
    - stay in the same place but share with 2 more people instead of 1 or like it was at the beginning of RPZ we still rented on our own
    - we wouldn’t be able to save up and buy a small property that we managed to do in early 2024 after years of sticking to our saving plan.
    So the RPZ was essential for us to stay in place. The landlord didn’t loose out as we were good tenants renting for more than 15 years.

    72
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    Mute John Purcell
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:43 PM

    @Concerned Driver: I think when u step back and look at it, the RPV were amazing for u, but bad for the landlord (if he was on a variable mortgage / tracker mortgage he would have seen his mortgage repayments increase dramatically in the last 5 years. He would also be way below the market rents available on the open market.) the rpv has also been terrible for future renters, the RPV has meant that people will not move to a new apt/house as they are getting such a great deal on their rent. The RPV introduction has seen a reduction in apt building which is reducing supply and pushing new rents to an all time high.

    7
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    Mute DAN TEDSON
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    Jun 9th 2025, 6:01 PM

    @Concerned Driver: the Rpz forced your landlord to raise the rent every single year. I went many years without increasing my rent in order to keep good tenants who over time became friends. Then I was behind market rate and had to start ratcheting up by the 4% as otherwise you would never be allowed to catch up with market rate should the tenants leave. That could also potentially have affected the property value. When they did leave I sold up, sick of the constant games with the government and media presupposing every landlord is some bollix or other.

    12
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    Mute RIP
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:19 PM

    As an Explainer and a public service, why not name the profiteers out of this Crisis that has no sign of ending

    53
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    Mute qW0cB1Fo
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:39 PM

    @RIP: The Journal is a govt mouthpiece. That is why.

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    Mute Alan
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:54 PM

    @qW0cB1Fo: if it is a govt mouthpiece why is it allowing you to comment and why is it explaining the situation rather than simply taking the govts side?

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:03 PM

    @qW0cB1Fo: Looks like you are unaware of the meltdown your having, good for your health to untie the emotional cord attached to your numerous profiles.

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    Mute qW0cB1Fo
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:13 PM

    @Mary BINTon: I have one profile. Also, you should learn the difference between your and you’re. You cr3t1n.

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    Mute qW0cB1Fo
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    Jun 9th 2025, 6:41 PM

    @Mary BINTon: Also… it’s obvious that you keep creating new profiles and trying to be funny with your user names. Get a life, weirdo.

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 9th 2025, 6:46 PM

    @qW0cB1Fo: Thanks for proving my point. Triggered because of your emotional attachment to your profiles, take a brake four you’re self their sun.

    6
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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:02 PM

    “In its report last year, the Housing Commission stated that landlords have been “constrained” by RPZs and noted that they have “reported a lack of policy certainty and diminished net rental returns as reasons for leaving the rental market”.”

    Pssst – rent caps aren’t there for the benefit of the landlord.

    RPZs aren’t a perfect solution but until we have a big overhaul of housing and the rental system it’s madness to remove them. Knowing that our rent increases were capped made it much easier for us as renters to determine what we could afford. Before that came into effect it was the wild west, our first apartment went from €900/mo in 2013 to €1225 the following year.

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    Mute The next small thing
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:29 PM

    @Rob Hunt: Obviously RPZ’s aren’t for the benefit of landlords however, if they stay as is then there will be no one willing to invest in building new properties so current tenants will be ok but homelessness will increase massively. With our population increasing we need an increase in supply, if we can’t increase supply then we need to reduce demand, can’t have it both ways.

    23
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    Mute Rian Smallbone
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:31 PM

    @The next small thing: when people try to conflate that fact and say that RPZ’s are causing the Housing Crisis, they seem to forget that even if true, it’s very low on a very long list of things causing the Housing Crisis, with the Govs preferential treatment of Vulture Funds, Corporate Landlords and Property Speculators at the very top of that list.

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    Mute Concerned Driver
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:32 PM

    @Rob Hunt: exactly the same here. One year, it was 2011 or 2012 the rent went up by €400. We negotiated 10% instead. But it was Wild West as you said.

    The article only mentions the impact of RPZs on landlord. No one asked the tenants the same question.

    15
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    Mute DAN TEDSON
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:56 PM

    @Rob Hunt: before I sold up as a ‘landlord’ with a one bed apartment, it gave me such a pain in the hole to HAVE TO raise my rent by the RPZ amount every year. I had let my apt out at half the market rate. But the RPZ rules meant I had to raise by the max amount every year or fall behind the market rate forever, since you cannot raise between tenancies. I found ways around it by giving my tenants a ‘Christmas bonus’ of not having to pay rent in dec for example. But the RPZ essentially forces landlords like me to raise rents when we dont want to. As a policy it did the opposite of what was intended.

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    Mute Rian Smallbone
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:13 PM

    RPZ’s were brought in to protect Renters from unscrupulous Landlords..
    They were not brought in to build houses.,,
    And when people try to conflate that fact and say that RPZ’s are causing the Housing Crisis, they seem to forget that even if true, it’s very low on a very long list of things causing the Housing Crisis, with the Govs preferential treatment of Vulture Funds, Corporate Landlords and Property Speculators at the very top of that list.

    37
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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:49 PM

    A load of lip service. They love the housing crisis as it widens the gap between the rich and poor and that has always been FFGs goal.
    Shysters.

    35
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    Mute Cormac McKay
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:36 PM

    If you go to the Dublin Docklands you’ll see many ready to go apartments that have been deliberately held back and left vacant until this new policy is in place.

    25
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    Mute Greagoir O Duinn
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:54 PM

    If ffg want to ditch RPZs it can only mean one thing. More money for vulture fund landlords

    26
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    Mute Brian D'Arcy
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:50 PM

    Why? For landlords

    23
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    Mute damien leen
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:30 PM

    What happened to extending the current housing schemes to pre-owned houses…more lies.
    Instead of helping people they are now making things worse…
    They are directly responsible for this housing crisis and are making thing worse!

    26
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    Mute Niall Smith
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:19 PM

    Explanation they’re landlords.

    23
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    Mute Ailbhe MacThomais
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:00 PM

    All to make sure their own families, friends and cronyism Continues to profits

    22
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    Mute Aidan Collins
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:57 PM

    Watch as landlords throw out existing tenants in order to relet at higher prices.

    20
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    Mute Jimbo
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:01 PM

    Rents should be frozen across the board for the foreseeable future it’s extortionate the money landlords are getting no wonder nobody has a chance of getting on the property ladder

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    Mute DAN TEDSON
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @Jimbo: just get rid of all landlords eh Jimbo? Somehow this will ensure a plentiful supply of rental properties.

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 9th 2025, 7:02 PM

    @DAN TEDSON: He didn’t say that, you’re twisting his words to suit your narrative.

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    Mute Jimbo
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    Jun 9th 2025, 7:12 PM

    @DAN TEDSON: no that’s not what I said rents should be frozen for the foreseeable future nobody can afford to rent with the cost of living let alone own their own property someday it’s downright extortion from landlords

    6
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    Mute Furious George - The Wasp
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    Jun 9th 2025, 3:22 PM

    Treason season starting early this year. Government are a disgrace

    23
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    Mute Dave Grant
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    Jun 9th 2025, 4:44 PM

    Irish Media are literally a mouth piece for the government.

    15
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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:36 PM

    What a waste of time and effort. Here’s the simple answer.
    So that their friends can make more money!

    12
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    Mute Ronan Mc
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    Jun 9th 2025, 2:03 PM

    We could end up like New York or other cities with rent controls of old. Fixed rents but serious under the table payments to get and keep properties that are rent controlled due to the lack of supply.

    9
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    Mute DAN TEDSON
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:45 PM

    All these market interventions have been tried again and again and have not worked. Disincentivising people from buying investment properties decreases rental supply. Time to do the opposite: leave the market alone to sort itself out. Or even incentivise people to get into investment property again in order to increase supply of rental properties. Imagine that. We also need to vastly increase the supply of skilled labour and reduce planning costs and uncertainty.

    4
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    Mute William Kelly
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    Jun 9th 2025, 5:22 PM

    Because the developers wont build apartments while its there.
    The readon we have a mixed State/ Capitalist economy is to enable the state to provide population needs that the for profit investors wont provide.
    So instead of doing just that, this government yields to mainly offshored interests to extract ever increasing rents. Absentee Landlordism 21st century style.

    4
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Jun 9th 2025, 10:52 PM

    I know of 3 young people almost qualified from they’re roles which took years to achieve and have all said they’re emigrating for a future. No hope of them affording they’re own homes but yet thousands enter the country and get them I can’t understand this backward country anymore it certainly doesn’t pay to work and pay tax for years to be bled dry and forced abroad passing people entering the country getting full benefits.

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