Rory Hearne: 'Shopping around' is not an option for tenants facing €1,800 rent hike 

As most parts of the country are not covered by rent caps, this is one area where the Government can actually intervene to reduce the cost of living, writes Rory Hearne

The ability of landlords to evict tenants for sale should be removed.

Most renters have been in a cost-of-living crisis for years as constantly rising rents have eaten up more and more of their income. The Government’s cost of living plan doesn’t address the core problem for them: the rents are too high and continue to increase. How can renters cover rising rents and rising electricity, gas, and other basics? Renters are going without heat and even food, bills are going unpaid, arrears are building up. 

The latest Daft.ie report showed average rents are €1,524 a month, up 10%. What that means for some renters, is their rent will increase by €1,800 over the next year. That is an unbearable increase for most.