'My heart is breaking', says Dublin woman facing 55% rent increase

A mother of two whose rent is being increased by 55% has said that she feels like a small fish being swallowed up by sharks.

Under new rent control plans which will be considered by the Cabinet this morning, landlords will only be allowed to increase rent every two years.

While the Government is hoping to rush the legislation through the Oireachtas, some landlords appear to be pre-empting it with immediate rent increases.

'Sinead', who lives in Dublin 15 with her two young sons, one of whom has autism, says that she was informed that her rent is increasing from €900 to €1,400 per month.

"My heart is breaking" - Dublin mother faces 55% rent increase https://t.co/RKEThsdM8X @kierancuddihy reports pic.twitter.com/zsOHKUDwzd

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She said that she simply cannot afford it.

"I feel like a little fish in a big pond - and the sharks are coming to get me," she said.

"And no matter how many times I shout, there's nothing that's going to be done, and I'm just going to be swallowed up, and the only people that are really going to be suffering are my children.

"And I'm just really feeling for them, because I feel my heart is breaking."