Extend Rent Pressure Zones NOW

Neighbours Mary Loftus and Anna Gallagher use the same word to describe their reaction to a rent review they both received last month –-shock.

The women told RTÉ's Prime Time that their landlord, who owns both properties in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, has advised them that their rent will increase by €600 a month.

Ms Loftus' four-bedroom house will go from €880 to €1,500 a month. Ms Gallagher's rent, which is for a three-bedroom home, is increasing from €800 to €1,400 a month.

"There's a bit of me that's still in denial. I still can't believe that this is true," Ms Loftus said.

Ms Gallagher said that, while she anticipated a rent review of up to €200, the €600 increase, which equates to a hike of more than 70%, was far beyond her expectations.

The women, who live in the Cnoc na Sí estate, have 90 days to decide if they will pay the increased rent.

"I fully expected that, at some stage, we'd be getting a rent review," Ms Gallagher explained.

"But, for me to earn an extra €600, I would need to get a massive salary increase to be able to cover that kind of money."

Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, is not in a rent pressure zone
Tubbercurry is not in a rent pressure zone, so the landlord is entitled to increase rents to a market rate once a lease has been in place for 24 months and the new rent can be shown to be on a par with others charged in the area.

In this case, the landlord could show three of his own properties in the same estate as examples of homes advertised at the higher rent.

"The rules need to be changed", Ms Loftus said. "We're all very angry that this is legal."

Potentially having to find a new property is a daunting prospect for the women.

The northwest of the country has seen the biggest rent increases over the past year, with an average annual rise of around 20%, according to Daft. There are only 11 properties to rent in Co Sligo – and just three in Tubbercurry.

"My local creche has a year's waiting list. If I take my son out of there, I might not get another creche," Ms Gallagher said.

"Your home is something very intimate, very personal and very special to each person. I don't want to sound too dramatic but, at the same time, it really does hurt," Ms Loftus added.

The landlord in question did not respond to questions from Prime Time.

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0602/1302731-rental-crisis-ireland/

'I'm still in denial' - Tenants face €600 rent increase A rapidly dwindling supply of homes to rent in Ireland has left tenants facing huge rent increases, with many struggling to find somewhere to live, Louise Byrne explains.

We All Need a Home - Extend Rent Pressure Zones NOW!!

The issue of affects *everyone*... even if you're a homeowner & you're not in imminent danger of a huge increase, your children, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, cousins are all in the firing line now.

We need to work *together* to ensure everyone has a stable home and we extend Rent Pressure Zone protections to *all* tenants.

If this is happening to us in Tubbercurry, we know it's happening up & down the country...

Thank you to Louise Byrne, Lydia Murphy & Fran McNulty for telling our story
https://www.rte.ie/player/series/prime-time/SI0000000825?epguid=IH000413004



To our Leaders - please show leadership NOW...
Micheál Martin Leo Varadkar T.D. Eamon Ryan Mary Lou McDonald - Sinn Féin Ivana Bacik Catherine Murphy Róisín Shortall Darragh O'Brien TD Rebecca Moynihan

Marian Harkin Martin Kenny TD Minister Frank Feighan Marc Mac Sharry Mary Fitzpatrick Cian O'Callaghan T.D. Eoin Ó Broin TD

Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Sinn Féin Ireland Labour Party Green Party Ireland Social Democrats People Before Profit

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2022/06/02/dail-hears-claims-of-75-rent-increases-in-tubbercurry/

A Sligo Leitrim TD has accused some landlords of implementing unrealistic rent increases

The Dáil has heard of a recent case in Tubbercurry where a landlord informed a family that their rent would be increased from 800 to 1400 euro – a 75% jump.

Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Kenny says this is not the only family in the area affected and says the issue is destroying people’s lives.

Responding Taoiseach Michael Martin described the situation as unacceptable and one that may merit an investigation:

Dáil hears claims of 75% rent increases in Tubbercurry - Ocean FM A Sligo Leitrim TD has accused some landlords of implementing unrealistic rent increases   The Dáil has heard of a recent case in Tubbercurry where a

Rent continues to be an increasingly chronic issue across the country, and is no longer restricted to the typical urban areas. Anna, Mary and Ola are residents of a housing estate in County Sligo, who have each seen their rent increase by approximately 70%, effectively overnight. They joined Andrea to discuss their shock and dismay at the current rental situation.

https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-lunchtime-live/it-was-a-600-euro-in-increase

"It was a 600 euro in increase!" | Newstalk Rent continues to be an increasingly chronic issue across the country, and is no longer restricted to the typical urban areas. Anna, Mary and Ola are residen...

More residents have spoken out about huge increases in rent in privately rented houses in Tubbercurry. Beth lives in the area affected, and says the rent being asked for of some residents is way out of kilter with similar properties

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2022/05/19/dire-and-unacceptable-tubbercurry-resident-calls-on-politicians-to-intervene-in-rent-row/

Dire and unacceptable - Tubbercurry resident calls on politicians to intervene in rent row - Ocean FM More residents have spoken out about huge increases in rent in privately rented houses in Tubbercurry. Beth lives in the area affected, and says the rent

A number of residents in the Tubbercurry area have expressed their shock and anger at a huge increase in their monthly rent. The residents say they’ve been told by their landlord that their rent is to increase by €600 per month, a 75% increase

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2022/05/16/tubbercurry-tenants-shocked-at-75-increase-in-rent/

Tubbercurry tenants shocked at 75% increase in rent - Ocean FM A number of residents in the Tubbercurry area have expressed their shock and anger at a huge increase in their monthly rent. The residents say they've

More residents have come forward to share their stories after reports of huge rental increases of privately rented houses in Tubbercurry.

The Sligo Champion has previously reported about the Cnoc-Na-Si housing estate in Tubbercurry where one landlord was imposing massive rent increases with two tenants outlining their rent being upped from €800 to €1,400, a rise of 75%.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/tenants-rally-against-rent-rises-in-tubbercurry-no-family-should-have-to-watch-their-rent-go-up-from-800-to-1400-41685924.html

Tenants rally against rent rises in Tubbercurry: ‘No family should have to watch their rent go up from €800 to €1,400’ More residents have come forward to share their stories after reports of huge rental increases of privately rented houses in Tubbercurry.

*A landlord has shocked his Tubbercurry tenants with a 75% rent increase.*

Anna Gallagher has been renting a three-bedroom semi-detached property at Cnoc Na Si in Tubbercurry with her husband and small child for a rate of €800 for the last two years when last week her landlord told her it was time for a rent review and informed her the rent was being increased to €1,400.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/tenants-in-shock-as-they-face-a-600-rise-in-rent-for-a-three-bed-semi-in-rural-county-sligo-town-41660559.html

Tenants in shock as they face a €600 rise in rent for a three bed semi in rural county Sligo town Anna Gallagher has been renting a three-bedroom semi-detached property at Cnoc Na Si in Tubbercurry with her husband and small child for a rate of €800 for the last two years when last week her landlord told her it was time for a rent review and informed her the rent was being increased to €1,40...