Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Housing Minister James Browne RollingNews.ie

'Major reforms' for the rental sector finally revealed - here's what you need to know

New build apartments to be exempt from the 2% rent increase cap.

LAST UPDATE | 10 Jun

“MAJOR REFORMS” TO the rental sector have been announced by government today which it says is aimed at “boosting investment” to increase the supply of homes. 

Under the changes, rents for existing tenants in the entire country will be brought under the current Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system. 

However, the RPZ system is set to be altered, with the proposals meaning that there will be some “limited exceptions” to the current 2% cap on rent increases under the RPZ system. 

Minister for Housing James Browne said this afternoon that Cabinet has approved the plans, which include plans for new build apartments to be exempt from the 2% rent increase cap.

Instead, rents in apartments built after a certain date could instead increase in line with inflation.

The government hopes that this move will increase investment in apartment construction by the private sector.

Here are the main points announced today:

  • Landlords will be allowed to hike rents in instances where tenants leave homes voluntarily, but not if they are evicted.
  • No fault evictions have been banned for landlords who own four or more properties.
  • Smaller landlords (up to three properties) can still evict tenants in certain circumstances, such as financial hardship or a desire for an immediate family member to move into the property.
  • New tenancies created from 1 March 2026 onwards will be set at market value and offered a six-year minimum rolling tenancy.
  • At the end of the six-year tenancy, the rent can be reset and “put back to the market”, meaning the first series of rent resets will take place in 2032.
  • Large landlords, defined as having four or more tenancies, will be banned from carrying out no-fault evictions for tenancies beginning from 1 March 2026.
  • It will remain prohibited to set a rent above the market rate. Landlords can still sell at any time if they use the tenant-in-situ scheme.

Asked whether the changes will decrease rents and, if so, when, Browne said that the only way to get rents down is by increasing the housing supply: “I expect rents to fall over time. What that particular length of time is, I won’t be able to predict.”

Fines for breaking the rules

Browne said he hopes tenants will report landlords breaking the rules to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), which he says he will give increased funding to.

However, tenants may not know how many properties their landlord owns, and therefore won’t be sure of their rights.

Browne said that the government will look at increasing fines for landlords who break rules, but it will have to consult the Attorney General first.

“Nobody should be able to game the system,” he said, stating that no landlord should be willing to pay off a fine because they will make some money on the back end of it through increases rent rates.

He said fines should be “higher” and “substantial” but there are limits in increasing fines before it crosses into the jurisdiction of the courts.

“Resetting of rents will not be allowed following a no-fault eviction. Rent resetting will only be allowed where a tenant leaves a tenancy of their own volition or has breached their tenant obligations,” Browne said.

“Resetting of rents will not be allowed during any tenancy created on or before 28 February 2026 due to the uncertainties it would cause for tenants with existing tenancies,” the minister said.

Many of the changes announced today won’t come into effect until 1 March 2026, to allow the government to pass the required legislation and to communicate the changes to landlords and tenants.

The Journal / YouTube

Resourcing and policing RTB

Asked about who would police whether the ban on resetting rents except in the case of no-fault evictions is being adhered to, Browne said it would be the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

There was no detail provided today about increased resourcing for the RTB to beef up their resources. 

“I would hope that people will report landlords who are breaking the law in this respect,” he said. 

When asked about whether a rent register might be established so as to provide transparency to tenants about the rent being charged prior to them, the minister said he would “like to see” a rents register.

“Our rents are way too high in this country, we know that. We know the only way to address that is increasing supply, so we have more competition, and then you will start to see rents go down,” he said. 

‘Supply, supply, supply’

Homelessness reached another record high in April, with 4,675 children having accessed emergency accommodation in that month.

The homelessness figures cover those living in emergency accommodation but not those rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those experiencing “hidden homelessness”, such as sleeping in cars, on couches, or other unsuitable living conditions. 

“I am very conscious of homeless people. We shouldn’t have any homeless people in this country,” said Browne earlier.

“The way to address homelessness, the way [that] people can get homes that they need to live in, is through supply, supply, supply, supply.”

Despite criticism from experts and homelessness charities, Browne says he’s confident his plan will work, as he’s “put an awful lot of thought into it”.

Next week, the Raise the Roof campaign group will hold a demonstration outside Leinster House that is likely to heap further criticism on the government.

The protest is seen as a reboot of the campaign and will coincide with a cross-party private members’ bill calling for emergency action on the housing crisis.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
76 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Moran
    Favourite Colin Moran
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 7:50 AM

    Want to stop people breaking into your house? Keep the bustards locked up the first time they do it!

    1520
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Cynical
    Favourite Richard Cynical
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:17 AM

    get a dog, preferably a big one

    491
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute VinHeffer89
    Favourite VinHeffer89
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:34 AM

    Dogs, hedges and gates. Make your house as unattractive to burgle as possible, it’s the way to go.

    294
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Keegan
    Favourite Ryan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:39 AM

    or a gun

    339
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pete Gibson
    Favourite Pete Gibson
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:10 AM

    Dedicated burglars know all about timers.
    The absence of a car outside is their main clue.
    Buy an old banger and park it outside.The worse condition the banger is in the better.
    Old banger = not rich.

    224
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Francie Coffey
    Favourite Francie Coffey
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:39 AM

    My biggest problem with burglars is making sure they don’t wake the neighbours with their screams…

    177
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Saul Goodman
    Favourite Saul Goodman
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:46 AM

    Buy a shotgun and let everyone in town to know about it.

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam O'Reilly
    Favourite Liam O'Reilly
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:59 AM

    I suspect a gun in the house would make you as much a target as it would be a deterrent.

    Shotgun isnt much use if you are not in the house …..

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rory conway
    Favourite rory conway
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:34 AM

    Better to put up a large sign advertising Rottweilers for Sale.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shawn Rahoon
    Favourite Shawn Rahoon
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 12:45 PM

    Totally agree Ryan. Glad to see the vast majority of thumbs in favour of the right to bare arms. They seem to change like the weather here on the journal.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill McConnell
    Favourite Bill McConnell
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:04 PM

    Shawn, we all enjoy the right to “bare arms” – can get cold in the winter time though!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Dwyer
    Favourite Frank Dwyer
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:24 AM

    why not leave the lights on in all the abandoned Garda stations round the country the thieves might think we have a police force

    744
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:53 AM

    I’d rather the guards be out and about than sitting in some station twenty-four hours a day signing passport applications.

    226
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute terrence
    Favourite terrence
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 2:00 PM

    comment of the month!! take a bow sir

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rodger 5
    Favourite Rodger 5
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:01 AM

    How many thefts are carried out by people on bail? Victims of these vermin should have the right to sue the state & that would end it.

    555
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ian flynn
    Favourite ian flynn
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:07 AM

    Want to stop people breaking into your house? Vote for a government that will close rural garda stations, impose laughable sentences, reduce gardai numbers and divert Garda resources to water protests. The lights are on but there’s nobody home.

    382
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Le Tigre
    Favourite Le Tigre
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:18 AM

    Don’t tell me to leave my lights on, TELL BURGLARS NOT TO BURGLE! #victimblaming

    273
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Campbell
    Favourite John Campbell
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:32 AM

    Le Tigre, point well made! Of course householders should ensure that their homes are not easy to break into. Prevention is paramount, and the best way to achieve this is to deter the burglars by stiffer sentencing and more in your face policing. Blaming the victim only adds insult to injury!

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam O'Reilly
    Favourite Liam O'Reilly
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:34 AM

    Its not victim blaming. Its a deterrent.

    There is a difference.

    But yes, the real issue here is how lenient sentences are. No one with 20+ convictions (or 10+ for the same offense) should be out in the community.

    126
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Halpin
    Favourite Andrew Halpin
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 9:56 AM

    Government conservation advice: leave all lights and taps on

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute afc
    Favourite afc
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 7:55 AM

    Get an alarm as well. That way your neighbours can complain about the nose of it

    258
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute afc
    Favourite afc
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 7:56 AM

    In addition to the noise of course

    245
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Lyons
    Favourite Mary Lyons
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:37 AM

    When I go away 1 leave 3 radios blaring in my house! Have been doing it for years and have never gotten broken into! Also leave the lights on in various rooms.

    I think the more locked up a house is ,all curtains drawn etc while you are away, the more inviting it is to rob!

    136
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Enright
    Favourite Chris Enright
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:04 AM

    and posting that on the Interne t with an account linked to Facebook. Every thief will be at a house listening for radios and lights left on everywhere.

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Lyons
    Favourite Mary Lyons
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:40 AM

    Chris a bit stupid of me alright! Forgot to say I also have 2 Rottweilers and a house alarm.!

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Enright
    Favourite Chris Enright
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:47 AM

    I see people posting on social media the whole time with locations of where they are. It is like an invite for people to rob a place. I know I do sometimes but live where there is always someone at home 24 hours a day 7 days a week all year.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Lyons
    Favourite Mary Lyons
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:58 AM

    I agree everyone should be more mindful. Good advice.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute little jim
    Favourite little jim
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:09 AM

    Would anyone mind if the people with guns left the lights off a few nights a year. We’ll leave ours on and it’ll all work itself out.

    176
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Doe
    Favourite John Doe
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 7:55 AM

    your lights have more chance of scaring robbers away than the Guards..

    171
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Magnus
    Favourite Magnus
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 12:11 PM

    True. I leave mine on 24/7. Cost is negligible if you get the right bulbs and you can always see where you’re going at night around the house too. Makes perfect sense to do it. We have this hang up in Ireland about turning off the lights. It’s a throwback to previous generations when they literally couldn’t afford it but it’s also simply untrue it costs a lot of money. It’s only a pence, not a few pounds.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Reese
    Favourite John Reese
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:48 AM

    A house is a man’s castle. It is where his wife and kids live. Break into that space and it is open season for getting your head blown off your shoulders.

    170
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick McGuinness
    Favourite Mick McGuinness
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 7:58 AM

    Love to see how they feel if their homes were broken into and wrecked and all their gear stolen along with any car or other transport they hey or their family have.

    121
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute littleone
    Favourite littleone
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:34 AM

    Maybe government can stop closing rural gardai stations , that would be a start. Even with lights on , some elderly are still being targeted because the burglars know their is no gardai presense.

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
    Favourite Kieran OKeeffe
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:17 AM

    Local had a sign on his gate”This house is guarded by shotgun 4 nights a week..guess which nights”

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Conroy
    Favourite David Conroy
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:15 PM

    Or “Rottweiler Can Make The Garden Wall In 2.5 Seconds, Can You ?”

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Evans
    Favourite David Evans
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:20 AM

    Leave the water running sure, robbers will definitely think there’s someone there then.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edmond Mc Grath
    Favourite Edmond Mc Grath
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:48 AM

    Leave the lights on! Some people can’t afford electricity for cooking and heating never mind keeping the lights on for the burglars!

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Geoghegan
    Favourite Conor Geoghegan
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 9:16 AM

    Top policing it has to be said, leave the bloody lights on, sure why not leave the heating on as well it gets cold in these winter months …
    How about a fresh approach to neighbourhood watch, tougher sentencing and better policing

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute liam ward
    Favourite liam ward
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:11 AM

    I want to stop rats trying to break into my home Irish water to blame for disturbing them while digging up my road here in Dublin

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Hayes
    Favourite Martin Hayes
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:46 AM

    Maybe the rats just view you as a kindred spirit.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tongueless Ghost
    Favourite Tongueless Ghost
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:44 AM

    Leave the lights on. Yeah ok half the houses are robbed during the day ffs, they haven’t got a clue in all fairness.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:54 AM

    If you read they article you’ll see that they are specifically talking about the evenings, during which burglaries increase in the Winter months,

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tongueless Ghost
    Favourite Tongueless Ghost
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 11:17 AM

    I did read THE article. Most houses are robbed during the the day because the thieving sc#m know that most people are working during the day or they’re gone to pick up the kids from school. Wouldn’t you think the Gardai would know this.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pearse McMullen
    Favourite Pearse McMullen
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 10:52 AM

    My dog is a cross between a Staffy and a Japanese Tosa (Bull Mastiff) he weighs about 60 kilo, Think i`ll leave the lights off and a little window slightly ajar, If the neighbours here any screams they have agreed to hold off calling the ambulance until i get home and can drag the body outside my property.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Keegan
    Favourite Ryan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:38 AM

    Or buy a shotgun

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute louise
    Favourite louise
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 12:24 PM

    It’s the poor elderly getting attacked in their own homes, lights or no lights.. No one feels safe in their homes anymore. As usual burglars get away with it..

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciara St Lawrence
    Favourite Ciara St Lawrence
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:21 AM

    Peter Andre has fallen on tough times I see…

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carmo Vanderval
    Favourite Carmo Vanderval
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 9:17 AM

    Call the cops! He just stole my heart…

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomasz Kuchnik
    Favourite Tomasz Kuchnik
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 8:59 AM

    one or couple capable dogs (not chi wow wow or jack Russell with all sympathy for them) and problem should be sorted

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kathleen Kavanagh
    Favourite Kathleen Kavanagh
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 4:07 PM

    They wouldn’t want to catch me on a bad day breaking in – they would be screaming for a priest !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 6:12 PM

    You nail their hands and feet to your wooden floor?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Higgins
    Favourite Peter Higgins
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 4:05 PM

    The greatest deterant to crime, be it burglary, murder or anything else, is risk of detection. And alas, in Ireland that’s very low.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute julie mcguckin
    Favourite julie mcguckin
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 1:05 PM

    Yeah let’s all get guns. It’s working out really well for the Americans so why not us?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Halpin
    Favourite Andrew Halpin
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 9:55 AM

    http://www.thejournal.ie/stolen-homes-millions-1683749-Sep2014/
    Better stuff last year, nice poster, same advice. Still trying to get my head around how they know leaving your lights on prevents burglary? I wonder what % of houses burgled are occupied at the time. Maybe they survey the criminals!!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 6:11 PM

    Or you can take a hammer to them?
    Or meet them naked and say who’s going to get it tonight lol. Just joking, that is how you answer the door when the priest comes round lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice Dodd
    Favourite Maurice Dodd
    Report
    Sep 26th 2015, 9:23 AM

    ireland..where every day is april fools day

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Sep 22nd 2015, 6:17 PM

    But they say when answering the door late at night to have the outside lights on but the hall light off because if they break in they can be seen but they then can’t see where they are going???
    I heard a Labour man on Brown last night saying why there is less Gardai about as he put it that crime has changed, what a load of slurry… Crime is still the same, it is the government who has changed the Gardai?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds