Alan Kelly was not convinced rent control was 'warranted or desirable'

The minister who went to war on ‘rent certainty’ had his doubts about regulating the rental sector at least 12 months before attempting to drive his own plans through Cabinet for the budget.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly instead admitted to Finance Minister Michael Noonan by letter that more tax reliefs for landlords would help stabilise the private rental sector.

Documents obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal the internal warnings that went on for months between officials at the Department of the Environment and Mr Kelly’s own advisers over rent regulation.