Complaints against landlord spiked ahead of rent changes

Disputes lodged against landlords over rents more than doubled in the period leading up to the coalition’s rent control proposals while there was also a spike in calls to a helpline for tenants.

Data obtained from the Private Residential Tenancies Board show complaints against landlords and problems with rents rose as Environment Minister Alan Kelly promised to control rates. Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show the PRTB faced a huge rise in calls to its help centre, with the numbers increasing from 8,685 in November last year to 11,105 November this year.

Furthermore, official disputes lodged over landlords charging rents that were more than market rates doubled from 33 in October and November last year to 69 for the same period this year.

While only a portion of disputes handled by the board for the months related to rents being more than market rates, the significant increase indicates the heightened disagreement between tenants and landlords after Mr Kelly’s plan for ‘rent certainty’ started to emerge in early October.

Speculation continued up to, and after, the budget later that month about how rents might be controlled.

A watered-down plan from Mr Kelly was eventually agreed in November to freeze rents for two years as opposed to tying increases to inflation.

The PRTB also released data on official disputes lodged for 2015 so far up to December, compared to all of last year. These show increased numbers complaining on other tenancy areas, including:

• Breaches of fixed-term leases (up 46%, from 134 to 196);
• Rent more than market rate (up 22%, from 185 to 225);
• Unlawful termination of tenancy (up 2%, from 263 to 269);
• Rent arrears and overholding (up 22%, from 315 to 385).

Mr Kelly had pledged that landlords would not be able to ‘gazump’ the new rent freezes before they went through the Dáil and frontload increases for tenants. But the new figures show the increased numbers of disputes over rents and leases which broke out ahead of the new rules being finalised.

Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Barry Cowen said it was now clear landlords had taken the opportunity during the speculation to hike rates. “There was a lag period, a vacuum during that period. Rents were increased,” he said.

Social Democrats TD Stephen Donnelly said Mr Kelly should have kept his plans quiet .

“Not only has he failed with this, but it was three years too late. It was a complete disaster in terms of timing, content and execution,” said Mr Donnelly “Some landlords have also clearly acted in a cavalier manner.”