'Urgent' need for three-year rent freeze, says Sinn Féin

There were fewer than 1,400 homes available to rent at the beginning of February countrywide

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin O Broin said: "Rents are higher than they have ever been, so the idea that a three year emergency ban on rent increases would have any negative impact on future levels of investment is simply nonsense."

Sinn Féin has called for the urgent introduction of a three-year rent freeze and a refundable tax credit for renters after the latest Daft report showed a 10% spike in rents.

There were fewer than 1,400 homes available to rent at the beginning of February, with the shortage of homes countrywide pushing rent inflation to a two-year high.