Estate agents accused of ‘slap in the face’ to renters with ads for investment properties that are not subject to rent cap limits

Estate agents have been accused of “slapping first-time consumers and renters in the face” with commercials encouraging home buyers to acquire residences because they are not capped beneath Rent Tension Zone (RPZ) legislation.

t arrives as landlords were alleged to have pushed up rents over and above boundaries imposed underneath restrictions.

Labour councillor for Limerick, Conor Sheehan, stated he was “dismayed” to see this sort of advertising and marketing practices whilst property-looking not long ago.

In 1 advert for a semi-detached household, an estate agent advertised the home as being “an perfect possibility for any first-time purchaser or for people who are searching for a probably valuable investment house with a robust produce not capped under RPZ legislation.”

Mr Sheehan, who has struggled to get on the assets ladder because of to rocketing residence charges, stated “the market is entirely in favour of buyers and landlords”.

“I was stunned but not stunned to see this. The point that the seller is encouraging a future consumer to acquire this home since it is exterior a RPZ, and hence they could demand exorbitant lease in exchange for a great return, is sickening.”

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), the State’s rental watchdog, reported there was “an unacceptable stage of non-compliance by landlords” just after its most recent rents index recorded rents increasing at premiums previous viewed ahead of the pandemic.

This is in spite of caps on rent raises currently being released in a few-quarters of the state. The RTB mentioned it was “concerning” that rents rose nationally by 7pc amongst April and June this calendar year.

Buyers snapping up households has been a big talking point in Ireland’s housing disaster and some estate agents have been focusing on their ads at individuals on the lookout to rent out qualities.

Another advertisement for a dwelling in a sought-right after residential spot reads: “Investors will be drawn to the chance to acquire a excellent asset with a likely lucrative rental earnings (currently uncapped beneath RPZ).”

Landlords bringing new rental houses to the marketplace or new tenancy agreements are exempt from laws on lease caps, so can effectively cost what they like.

Pat Davitt, main govt of the Institute of Expert Auctioneers and Valuers (Ipav), explained: “The Authorities is mindful of what’s heading on. It’s up to them to transform it. Estate agents publicize what is factual. It may possibly very well be contributing to the challenge [of investors buying family homes], but it is factual.”

Mr Davitt claimed that the RTB report released this week need to have a “health warning” as it does not differentiate involving homes in rent tension zones and those people that are exempt from the guidelines, irrespective of staying in these specified locations.

“It could be that these new rental attributes are driving rents greater, fairly than landlords flouting guidelines,” he stated.

The Federal government has now vowed to crackdown on rogue landlords just after rents surged by as much as 17laptop in some pieces of the nation.

The normal month to month rent nationwide now stands at €1,352 for each month, up seven for each cent year-on-12 months.

Renters in counties outdoors hire pressure zones – such as Longford and Leitrim – observed hikes of between 15.9computer and 17.3pc.

Padraig McGoldrick, interim director of the RTB, explained landlords who flout hire caps could be fined up to €15,000. The RTB is at this time investigating around 400 instances of non-compliance by landlords in relation to rent raises.

Housing charity Threshold said rent increases are pushing men and women into money issues.

One shopper of the charity had been dwelling in her rental dwelling for above 10 years, when her rent was hiked by €200, an increase of 20computer.

“She was by now battling to deal with the hire and often couldn’t set credit rating in her cellphone,” the charity reported. “Threshold was ready to assist her to dispute the hire boost, which was invalid, as she was living in a RPZ. The landlord issued a new hire assessment see in line with the RPZ policies.”