Landlords claim they are not to blame for housing crisis

Landlords have defended themselves from claims they are to blame for the housing crisis and said the Government should take responsibility.

Amid growing concern over rising homelessness — driven by rising rents and a limited housing stock — the Irish Property Owners’ Association said government actions had directly contributed to the problem.

Its chairman, Stephen Faughnan, said many landlords were in negative equity and had to charge market rental rates to break even.