Fears of hike in rents ahead of cap deal

Rent caps will be introduced next week in Dublin and Cork City and as early as next February in other cities and counties after a deal was finally struck.

After a standoff between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the latter agreed to let rent controls pass through the Dáil — but only if other areas are assessed promptly as rent pressure zones.

But the two-month gap could allow landlords hike up rents in the meantime, it was warned, if certain counties or cities look set to apply rent rise caps next year.