Private rental market locally is ‘kaputt’

Rental accommodation shortages were a hot topic at a recent meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District as councillors highlighted issues with both the Housing Assitance Payment (HAP) and the short term letting market.

At the meeting last Monday week, Cllr John Pratt noted a recent trend in property owners in receipt of HAP opting to sell, which he claimed is ‘becoming an issue’.

“There’s a lot of people on HAP and they’re finding it very difficult then to source new housing,” Cllr Pratt said.

Pointing to recent inflation and rising costs, Cllr Pratt requested that HAP might be increased in light of this.

“It’s kind of a double whammy. I would prefer if we didn’t have to depend on the private sector and on HAP, but we are where we are,” Cllr Pratt added.

Several other councillors supported Cllr Pratt, and in response, Director of Housing with Waterford City and County Council Ivan Grimes, noted that there are currently over 2,000 active HAP tenancies.

Mr Grimes added that those in receipt of HAP are also eligible to apply for housing via the Choice Based Letting (CBL) system.

“There is definitely significant pressure in the private rental sector, the HAP section is inundated in dealing with people who have been given notices to quit and they do try to apply every flexibility we are allowed,” Mr Grimes said.

He also noted that he had spoken with the Department’s HAP section as regards an increase in payments and will continue to look into the matter.

LACK OF REGULATION

West Waterford councillor Conor D McGuinness spoke of the impact that the short term letting market is having on those seeking a place to rent and called for West Waterford to be designated a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ).

“The private rental market locally is completely kaputt. It couldn’t be worse. It’s creating hardship left, right and centre and we need to address it,” he said.

According to the councillor, he carried out a search ahead of the meeting which resulted in just one property available to rent in all of West Waterford, a two-bedroom property costing €960 a month.

Carrying out a similar search straight afterwards on Airbnb, Cllr McGuinness noted that there were 20 properties available in Dungarvan alone ranging from €2,872 a month to €14,033 a month.

“In the absence of any form of regulation, is there any wonder why we have a particularly acute rental crisis here in West Waterford?” Cllr McGuinness said.

With regards to the cost of Airbnb properties, Cllr McGuinness said that property prices within West Waterford should be re-evaluated with such costs taken into consideration.

NATIONAL ISSUE

Director of Housing, Ivan Grimes, stated that he had spoken with officials in the Department on the matter and said he believed that the message needs to be conveyed at the Oireachtas level.

“It’s not just in West Waterford, I can assure you of that. It’s something that needs to be pursued at a national level politically and very strongly,” Mr Grimes said.