Wicklow Rent Rise ‘Unsustainable’ – Whitmore

On the marina front…

atest press release from Jennifer Whitmore TD, issued on Friday, April 29th 2022…

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore has called out against the unsustainable situation of rising rents in Wicklow and across the country.

Rents in Wicklow have risen by 10% since last year which Whitmore says, is ‘completely unsustainable’ for current renters and first-time buyers in Wicklow.

“The Residential Tenancies Board has recently published the quarterly Rent Index report for the October to December period (Q4) of 2021. It reveals once again, the unsustainable path of rising rents across Wicklow and the increasingly challenging situation facing renters and first-time buyers in Wicklow.

“In just one year, rents have risen by 10% nationally over the last year. This means that to rent in Wicklow you would need to pay an average monthly rent of approximately €1,522, requiring a renter to have a monthly salary of €5,076 to afford it. Add on top of that, the pressures of inflation and rising cost of energy and you can see how this quickly becomes impossible for someone renting in Wicklow.

“Spiralling rents in Wicklow are creating a completely unsustainable situation for many living in the county. There are very few places for people to rent so people don’t have a choice to move to something smaller or cheaper. If you look for rental places in Bray for example, you will currently only see two homes to rent, both for over €2,000/month – completely unsustainable.

“The Government has no contingency plan in place. HAP is still being used but again there are very few properties signed up for HAP rental agreements. Those looking for HAP places in their area are already struggling to find somewhere to live and many end up living in overcrowded accommodation with other family members and end up in situations that are inappropriate to their needs. Social and affordable housing is not developing quick enough to address the increasingly fall out from rising rents, and existing homelessness figures.

“What’s unfolding in Wicklow is part of the government’s wider set of policies which over time is seeing a rise in the cost of living and which is squeezing working families with rising rents, energy costs and bills.”