More homes built & strict rent controls needed now
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THE Government has been urged to build more homes and bring in stricter rent controls to solve the housing crisis.
A survey commissioned by insurer Royal London asked 1,000 people for their opinions on how the State should tackle the problem.
A total of 28% of people said it should invest in public housing and a quarter called for tougher rent controls to be applied.
Other solutions offered include cutting red tape to speed up building, price controls on development land, financial incentives to encourage private house construction and stemming the growth of Airbnb.
Joe Charles, head of proposition at Royal London, said: “The Government is taking steps to ease the crisis but it appears from our survey quicker results are felt to be needed.
“The Residential Tenancies Act should help slow down rising rents in designated rent pressure zones and bring about greater protection for tenants in the private rental market.
“The Project Ireland 2040 scheme will provide a considerable number of new homes but these must be made available soon.
“Whatever the Government’s chosen approach is, it is clear that in the context of this issue a varied approach is needed to combat the critical situation that many Irish people find themselves in.”
construction
The survey results appear to show women are more inclined to take a legal approach to solving the crisis, while men were are more in favour of a construction-focused solution.
More females believe the Government should apply stricter rent controls and put curbs on the price of development land.
While more men than women, 32% to 24%, believe the Government should build more houses.
Mr Charles added: “With the country’s population projected to grow by one million by 2040, it’s clear a longerterm solution is as vital as an immediate one.
“Social housing is a vital component of the
Government’s Project Ireland 2040 and through the plan 112,000 households are expected to have their needs met by securing a social housing home over the next decade.
“The rental market appears to be a hamster wheel of sorts, with those currently renting, particularly in Dublin, struggling to save enough to buy their own home.
“This predicament has given us what has been called ‘Generation Rent’ – a whole generation who face the prospect of renting for a large part of their lives.”