Tánaiste: There are consitutional issues around rent control

The Tánaiste Joan Burton appears to be ruling out the introduction of rent control saying it would be constitutionally difficult.

New figures show rents continuing to rise - - though some slow-down in the increase is emerging.

The latest research from the Private Residential Tenancy Board shows that nationally, private rents are up 5.6% - that number falls to 3.8% when Dublin is excluded.

Joan Burton says the best way to stop rents rising is to build more homes and allow for negotiation of longer tenancies and that there are constitutional issues around rent control.

The Tánaiste says introducing rent control may not be possible but maybe consider a reform of the system.

Ms Burton said: "There are consitutional issues around rent control. The Attorney General and I have a number of people looking at the issue.

"But there were several cases before the courts, where the courts deemed that the kind of rent control frameworks that you see in other European countries unconstitutional, in terms of individual property rights in Ireland.

"What I do believe, is that we could look at a reform of the system which would offer greater certainty to tenants, so that people on rent supplement or in tenancies could negotiate tenancies for a longer period than the current one-year period."