Leftist councillors unite against Dublin City Council social housing rent hikes
Councillors from Sinn Fein, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and an Independent are united in their opposition to social housing rent increases.
In a joint statement released by the Progressive Alliance, several councillors have voiced their intention to reject planned rent increases by Dublin City Council. As a rent hike could see some tenants face increases of as much as 50% , the left-leaning group state increases will put further pressure on already struggling families.
"We will oppose any attempt on Monday night to increase rent for Dublin City Council , HAP or Approved Housing Body tenants,” a joint statement read. “The vote on Monday night will impose further pressure on already struggling families.”
Issued by Social Democrat Cllr Cat O’Driscoll, Sinn Fein Cllr Daithi Doolan, Independent Cllr Cieran Perry, and People Before Profit Cllr Conor Reddy, these proposed increases have sparked widespread outrage, with affected tenants voicing their dismay.
Several council tenants have previously spoken to Dublin Live about the burden these extra costs will put on their families and expressed their intention to protest outside City Hall tonight in advance of the council’s budget meeting. This rally has been organised by the Progressive Alliance, CATU, and Sinn Fein.
“Families are really struggling with the cost of living crisis. People are being pushed to the pin of their collar trying to cover the cost of food, heating, and fuel. The last thing working families need is a rent increase,” the Progressive Alliance said.
“Families with grown children cannot be demanding more money from them to cover a rent increase while the same children are struggling to save for a mortgage or a deposit. The vote on Monday must be defeated. The Progressive Alliance is calling on other parties to join with us and oppose this rent increase.
“The real problem is that central government are starving Dublin City Council of essential funding to cover maintenance of council housing. Only last month the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael government were applauding themselves on the huge budget surplus. Some of that money must be invested in housing here in Dublin."
Sinn Fein’s group leader Cllr Doolan further stressed his party’s opposition to local property tax and rent increases for council and HAP tenants. He described this property tax as being “a tax on the family home.”
“We attempted to reduce the tax by the maximum 15%, but our motion was defeated by an unholy alliance of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, Greens and Social Democrats. Families will be hit with a double whammy this year of an increase in the property tax and an increased revaluation of their home,” Cllr Doolan said in a statement issued to the press.
“Families in council housing are in poorly insulated homes, requiring urgent upgrades and maintenance. While HAP tenants are in precarious private rented accommodation can face eviction at any time. Demanding more rent is insulting and unacceptable. The current housing crisis is forcing families to live in overcrowded conditions.”
The protest against social housing rent increases will take place outside Dublin’s City Hall today at 5:15pm, to coincide with the vote on rent increases.
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