Dublin City Council pass social housing rent increases by single vote
Dublin City Council has voted in favour of social housing rent increases.
Despite widespread opposition from tenants and some councillors, the Council are moving forward with the increases. The Council Budget vote, including the rent increases to social housing, was passed by a singe vote, with a tally of 31 councillors in favour and 30 against.
As affected tenants rallied and protested outside City Hall today, Dublin councillors voted through the controversial proposal to amend the current Differential Rent scheme, which has remained unchanged for nearly 30 years. This previously saw tenants pay a weekly rent based on 15% of the income of the highest earner, and an additional €15% to a maximum of €21 per occupant up to €84.
However, councillors have now voted in favour of upping this charge to 18% as well as additional increases. This decision has sparked widespread outrage among council tenants who previously spoke to Dublin Live about feeling unfairly targeted during a cost of living crisis.
Social Democrat Cllr Cat O’Driscoll, Sinn Fein Cllr Daithi Doolan, Independent Cllr Cieran Perry, and People Before Profit Cllr Conor Reddy were vocal in their opposition to the rent hike, and issued a statement as the Progressive Alliance about their intention to vote no to the budget. People Before Profit Councillors Conor Reddy and Hazel De Nortuin put forward an amendment that offered an alternative to the Dublin City Council Draft Budget 2026.
This proposed scrapping the proposed rent increases and instead raise rates payments on the city's largest businesses. Cllr Reddy explained that this would have allowed for the allocation of additional €1.5 million for housing maintenance on top of what is already allocated and is an approach that is already in place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Limerick city councils.
However, People Before Profit's amendment was rejected with a tally of 31 against, 28 in favour, and one abstention from Social Democrats Cllr Cian Farrell.
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