Rents exceed Celtic Tiger era as Government urged to step up homelessness plans

The Government has been urged to step up implementation of its action plan on housing and homelessness after the latest Daft.ie report showed spiralling rental costs have now outstripped levels last seen in the boom.

The Daft.ie rental report for the second quarter of the year showed rents have risen nationally by 11% year-on-year in a marketplace in which there were 20% fewer homes for rent than on August 1 last year.

Rents also rose by 3.9% between April and June, the largest three-month increase since 2007, meaning the average monthly rent is now at its highest level on record.