Simon Harris and Pearse Doherty clash over rent reforms

Leas-Cheann Comhairle tells students visiting the Dáil there are 'a few TDs' he would 'love to send to the principal's office' after the heated exchanges

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty accused the Government of allowing landlords to hike rents by 'eye-watering' amounts but Tánaiste Simon Harris countered by accusing Mr Doherty of 'scaremongering and misinformation'. Pictures: Collins, PA

There were heated exchanges in the Dáil on Thursday, as Tánaiste Simon Harris and Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty clashed over changes to rent reforms.

Mr Doherty accused the Government of allowing landlords to hike rents by “eye-watering” amounts, citing an investor report by Ires Reit which outlined how the country's largest landlord could see its rental income increase by 25%.

The reforms will give landlords the ability to reset rents to market rates every six years or if a tenant voluntarily ends the lease.

The company’s briefing outlined that it owns 3,627 rental properties across the State, with an average monthly rent of €1,852 per unit.

It said it expects a 25% “potential rental income uplift with minimal added costs”, adding that this will come through as tenancies turn over.

In a statement on Thursday, a spokesperson for Ires Reit said they expected this 25% increase in rental income to be delivered over 10 years.

During fractious exchanges at Leaders’ Questions, Mr Doherty said corporate landlords were “preparing to cash in”, citing the Ires Reit report.

New tenancies

Mr Doherty said there are 60,000 renters each year who move into new tenancies, saying this will allow landlords to hike their rents as much as they want.

Mr Harris accused Mr Doherty of “scaremongering and misinformation”, claiming the proposals would be the strongest the State has ever had.

He said rents would be permitted to be reset to market rates, but this could only be done once before being locked in for six years.

“For the first time ever, somebody who takes out a new tenancy in March will have that six-year security, the protection of an effective no-fault eviction ban, and will also know that the rent cannot rise further during that six years except in line with inflation, but no more than 2%,” Mr Harris said.

He said the 25% figure is not a “fair representation at all”.

“It is a projected figure over a period of 10 years,” said Mr Harris.

John McGuinness queries behaviour of TDs

The heated row led to Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness asking a visiting group of students to write in and give their thoughts on the behaviour of some TDs in the Dáil.

“I wish to acknowledge the group of students in the public gallery. They sat patiently through all of the Leaders' Questions and business of the House. I do not know where or what constituency they are from or what school they might be from, but I want to give them a bit of homework. 

They might write into the Ceann Comhairle to let us know what they thought of this morning's behaviour.

“I would love to hear from them, because my 12-year-old grandchild tells me that if her class behaved the way some behave in this House, they would be sent to the principal's office."

Mr McGuinness said he could pick “a few” TDs out each Thursday who he would “love to send to the principal's office”.

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter