'Urgent action needed' as average rents increase almost 7%

The Simon Community says urgent action is needed from the Government to prevent people from becoming homeless.

The latest PRTB Quarterly Rent Index shows the average national rent hit €835 in the first three months of this year, compared to €781 in 2014 - a rise of 6.9%.

Rents for houses were 6.5% higher, while apartment rents were 7.8% higher.

Annual rent rises in Dublin was stronger, up by 9.6%, with house rents in the capital up 9% in the year to €1,325. Average apartment rents increased 10.8% to €1,205.

Annual growth in rents outside Dublin saw growth of 5.3% compared to Q1, 2014, with house rents up 5.7%, apartments 5.2%.

Simon Community spokesperson Niamh Randall says it's not good enough that so many families are living in hotel accommodation.

"They're trying to do homework, they're trying to get children to school, they're trying to eat, they're trying to do all the family activities in this one hotel room, and it just isn't possible," she said.

"We know that this has a detrimental impact on children, we know it's going to have an impact on them in the longer term, and we also know that experience of homelessness as a child increases your likelihood of homelessness as an adult.

"So we need to act now, we need to say this is not good enough."