Government can’t ignore plight of those in private rented sector

The number of people facing eviction and being forced to leave their private rented accommodation in areas of Cork city and county is staggering.

There are many reasons for this and the overall housing crisis exacerbates the position for those in private rented accommodation.

Financial incentives that existed before for private landlords to invest are now gone.

Many multiple dwelling units ae being converted into private homes.

I cannot emphasise enough the appalling position faced by families and individuals in their search for a secure family home.

I see it every day. Apart from having nowhere to live, families face all the stress of changing schools and communities with all the associated trauma.

Those in rented accommodation face an appalling scenario for which there appears to be few practical solutions. There will have to be more activity and it will have to be Government led.

Can the Government outline the immediate action it intends to take to relieve this situation? Threshold has stated that the number of elderly people contacting it to find out their rights

regarding leases is on the rise.

There are frightened people out there: particularly as some landlords are taking the law into their own hands, changing locks and dumping people’s belongings on the street.

The Simon Community has also commented on the effect of this crisis on the elderly.

But young families as well as single people, young and old, are also living in fear.

A new group of homeless people is being created by this Government’s failure to act.

A major injection of capital is needed to allow local authorities to immediately set in motion a social housing building programme in all our villages, towns and cities.

Radical measures are needed if chronic levels of

homelessness are to be avoided.

Cllr Noel Collins

St. Jude’s

Midleton

Co Cork