Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has been criticised for not going far enough to help renters coming out of the pandemic.
Mr O’Brien got the backing of his fellow Cabinet ministers for a proposal to extend a special rent freeze for those who have lost their jobs or had their wages hammered by Covid.
Just over 500 tenants currently benefit from this scheme.
There will also be a limit of the equivalent of two months rent, usually a one month deposit and one month in advance, that can be charged by landlords at the start of a tenancy.
The Minister said this would be particularly helpful for some students who are being targeted and hit with huge upfront rent bills, sometimes for a full year.
He said: “Having met previously with members of the USI (Union of Students in Ireland), I know they were particularly concerned about students being asked to pay up to a year's rent in advance and having to provide lengthy termination notices.”
The freeze on rent increases or collection of arrears was due to end on July 12, but Mr O’Brien said he is fast-tracking legislation to add another six months to the freeze, bringing it out to the middle of January.
However, opposition parties including Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats believe this does not go far enough and are looking for a longer rent freeze, of up to three years, to help people get back on their feet.
Social Democrats housing spokesman, Cian O’Callaghan, said: “Today’s decision to extend the COVID-19 tenant protections will be cold comfort for the vast majority of renters who have been excluded.
“Unfortunately, the Government’s decision is more about show than substance.
“Only a few hundred renters will benefit out of tens of thousands
“When you look at the detail of the decision, it’s clear that the vast majority of renters have been left out.
“The complex rules only apply to those already in rent arrears who make a declaration that they cannot pay because of COVID-19.
“That is a minority of tenants.
“Most renters will still face serious insecurity.
“Many people live with the daily fear of a knock on the door from a landlord armed with an 8% rent hike or notice of a tenancy termination.”
And Sinn Féin housing spokesman, Eoin Ó Broin, was also critical, saying: “It is also worth noting that with respect to the extension of the Covid 19 related protections.
“These only apply to less than 500 renters out of 300,000 registered tenancies.
“The protections should be extended to all renters until at least the end of the year.
“Since April 22nd the overwhelming majority of renters can now be subject to notices to quit, evictions and rent increases.
“Where a renter did not receive a rent increase last year they can be hit with an 8% rent increase this year.
“More must be done to protect all renters from unfair rent hikes."
