With rents at their highest levels nationally since 2008 and claims from Fr Peter McVerry that new Housing Minister Simon Coveney is facing “a homeless and housing crisis which is out of control”, how does the country address a situation which has been worsening for most of the last decade?

The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA)has claimed it has had insufficient staff over recent years to process the volume of complaints about auctioneers and estate agents.

Delays in obtaining an Irish property licence have forced the postponement of the sale of contents from Bantry House, due to have taken place on October 21.

There are signs of a rebound in the property market with the number of homes sold in the first half of 2013 up by 6%, although average house prices are continuing to fall.

The analysis of property prices by the Irish Examiner is based on the Residential Property Price Register compiled by the Property Services Regulatory Authority.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has confirmed that Nama has agreed annual rent reductions totalling €14m from businesses “in order to help businesses survive”.

The estimated house values designed to guide intending property-tax payers on how much they owe could lead to more confusion than clarity.

Nama approved 212 applications for rent reductions from businesses last year, with an annual aggregate rent reduction value of €13.5m.

There is further evidence that the property market is stabilising, according to data compiled by the Property Services Regulatory Authority which show a very strong finish to 2012 for residential property transactions in Ireland.

A senior economist has questioned the credibility of the Central Statistics Office’s house price statistics, and said the decline in house values is much higher than the CSO estimates.

HAVING stared it down through the kindly prism of the Household Charge in 2012, the Local Property Tax (LPT), we had so long dreaded is here.

House prices may still be almost 50% lower than at their peak in 2007, but last month saw the first rise of more than 1% in prices since Dec 2006.

Ireland's first ever property price register has been launched. The website allows users to see how much properties in the country sold for since January 1, 2010.

Pat Ahern of Ronan Daly Jermyn Solicitors explains PSRA form and lease rights

The Government has set up a regulatory body to ensure those buying or renting a property are not mislead on its actual value.

Budget 2012 has offered a lifeline to the property market and has the potential to bring about much-needed stability and confidence to a sector which has been hard hit in recent years, writes PJ Power

RESIDENTIAL property prices continued to fall in July with the cost of property dropping by 12.5% in the year to date.

LACK of finance, lack of transparency, and a lack of hard data on what houses are selling for are combining to keep Ireland’s housing market in the doldrums.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has welcomed the introduction of a property tax but said the Government’s approach "lacks transparency".

ACCURATE information on the sale prices of all property is to be made available in a new database to be established by the Government.

A definitive and official guide to the state of the property market is to be established, the Government has today announced.

DELAYS by the Government in bringing forward legislation to regulate property management companies is causing hardship for apartment owners, it was claimed yesterday.

The National Consumer Agency is expected to raise the issue of misleading information about house prices during talks with estate agents today.

Regulation in the property market is urgently needed to stop “cowboys” ripping off home buyers, it was claimed today.

The Government must introduce legislation to regulate auctioneers and estate agents operating in the property market, the Dáil heard tonight.

THE country’s consumer watchdog said yesterday there was more protection for someone buying a €30 kettle than a €300,000 apartment.

A NEW authority will be set up next year to crack down on rogue operators and sharp practice in the property sector.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has announced that the Government has approved his proposals to establish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill, relating to the sale of property.