Apartment regulations will not make rent more affordable

The government has introduced new regulations setting out minimum apartment sizes with the objective of reducing costs for developers.

The move to reduce apartment sizes does not bode well for tenants. It is another example of the agenda of developers being prioritised over the importance of creating decent, affordable homes for all tenants. Tenants are not second class citizens and we don’t want second class homes.

The new reduced apartment sizes in Dublin and Cork are a retrograde move for quality of life, and do not achieve their stated outcomes of providing affordable accommodation.

We are disappointed that the Department of the Environment chose not to engage with the public, but instead only heard lobby groups’ propositions. Once again tenants have been denied a voice. The new bedsit size of 40 sq m, if in fact it can be built, will still cost €281,000 and will not be affordable to purchase. Hence they will be given to the state as Part V contribution for social housing, or rented; this is yet another diminution of the rental sector. In the absence of rent controls there is no reason to think that the reduced apartment sizes will reduce rents.

We are disappointed that the Department’s research shows no evidence that they took into account social, spatial, or health issues which may result from these reduced sizes.

Instead they focused merely on the costs of construction as demanded by the property industry.

Michael Byrne

Dublin Tenants Association

Holy Family Parish Centre

Prussia Street

Dublin 7