Leitrim Councillor fears homeless crisis will continue to escalate

A Local Councillor has predicted that proposed changes to the rental property market will not go far enough to address the increasing number of people at risk of becoming homeless. Rent Pressure Zones are to be extended to cover the North West and entire country. Sweeping new changes will be brought to cabinet for approval today.Every single tenancy will be in a Rent Pressure Zone.  As a result rent increases will be capped at 2 per cent or linked to inflation - whichever is lower. Rents in newly built homes will only be linked to inflation. Landlords will be labelled large or small depending on the number of properties they own, and they can only reset rents if a tenant voluntarily leaves their property. Leitrim Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon says the full detail of the changes will have to be closely examined, however he says early indicators suggest that the changes will not address the housing crisis.