Bid to help renters in Drogheda

LOCAL TD Fergus O’Dowd has said he is hopeful changes will be made imminently to allow Rent Pressure Zones to be applied in Drogheda and parts of County Louth.

Speaking this week, he said the Minister has confirmed that a review is afoot and that the qualifying criteria for RPZs will be part of that review.

‘ The rent increases in County Louth and in particular Drogheda are unacceptable and not sustainable. Drogheda and parts of County Louth need Rent controls until such time that supply is increased,’ said Deputy O’Dowd. ‘I will continue to push the case forward for Drogheda and County Louth to be included in the upcoming RPZ review.’ The TD had asked the Minister if he would consider changing the methodology used to calculate rent pressure zones and remove meeting the national average rent as part of the formula.

In his written response, the Minister said for an area to be designated as a RPZ it must satisfy the necessary criteria. He said this information is based on actual rents of tenancies registered with the RTB as opposed to the Daft.ie figures which reflect asking rents. He said the Local Electoral Areas in Louth do not meet the criteria for designation at this time and said he has no further role or discretion in proposing areas for designation. ‘Where, following the procedures set out in the Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones. I expect that the RTB Rent Index data for Quarter 2 of 2017 will be available later this month,’ he said.

‘My Department is currently reviewing the Rent Predictability Measure.’