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.