Alan Kelly refuses to confirm details of rent control package

The Environment Minister Alan Kelly is refusing to confirm details of the compromise package to control the cost of rent.

But Alan Kelly has said there should be no reason for landlords to hike rents just before the new controls are set to kick in.

It is understood that under the new rules, landlords will only be able to increase rent every 24 months - instead of every 12 at present.

Charities are worried that landlords may now increase rents immediately - but the Minister told Galway Bay FM that shouldn't be a problem.

“Remember that people have rent reviews and they have them on a certain date and landlords cannot just choose to gazzump those,” Mr Kelly said.

“There is the PRTB who are in place to deal with issues like that and if any landlord does try to do anything well then, I would suggest that they contact the PRTB and ensure that they get involved, but I don’t suppose that that will be an issue.”