Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 13.02
A WOMAN WAS taken to hospital after falling into a giant hole that appeared in the pavement of a London street this morning.
Witnesses reported screaming before the woman disappeared into the hole outside a café in the west London suburb of Fulham, the Evening Standard reported.
She was pulled from the hole and taken to hospital, while the area was cordoned off.
Kate Sissons, who posted images of the hole on Instagram, posted that both the woman and her pram fell into the hole.
“It just happened! Loud scream and all I could see was the pram,” she said.
“Ambulance and fire on way to get her out. Scary. V v scary.”
However authorities and other eyewitnesses have denied there was a child involved, and it is not believed the woman may have been pushing a shopping trolley.
One told the Evening Standard the hole had already opened up and the area cordoned off with chairs when the woman fell.
She went to go around it and she fell. But when they rescued her she was as good as gold. She didn’t have a baby with her.”
‘Shaken, not seriously injured’
A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said emergency services were called to the site in North End Rd at 8.53am after reports a woman had fallen through a hole.
The patient was shaken but not seriously injured and we took her to Charing Cross Hospital,” he said.
A builder, Paul Smith, said he saw someone fall through the hole “like a trapdoor”.
“It is about a metre wide and about eight foot deep,” he said, according to the Mirror.
“I couldn’t see inside to see if it was a man or a woman but it was a person and the police were all around.”
- First published 11.47am
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Got a nice email today informing me that it’s going up by 100€ a month. Sound.
Sorry or your trouble. It’s infuriating that rent can just be arbitrarily increased like that as things stand at the moment
€100?
yikes, i couldn’t afford that. I’m already spending 60+% of my income on rent.
Can you negotiate?
Thanks Stephen, sign of the times, eh. No negotiation I’m afraid. Accept or leave. I was kind of expecting it so it wasn’t too much of a surprise but still…
Well, not saying it’s right or wrong, but if my mortgage on a rental property O bought at the wrong time in 2006 is 1,100 per month and I’m only getting 1,000 per month for it, but now the market supply means that I could charge more and at least cover my mortgage… why wouldn’t I up the rent to cover my mortgage?
Your mortgage struggles aren’t the tenant’s problem Bopter, you can’t play with people’s lives and suddenly demand more money, the initial contract should stick
another “under review” crisis, eh hugh?
Maybe you’d rather he can’t pay his mortgage and the house is repossessed and sold by the bank.
this is BS, the PRTB have a market value thing going, this is just enforcement. the rents won’t come down, they’ll go up according to the market value. Won’t make much of a difference this. Rent Controls is whats needed. A house in an area of high value doesn’t mean the house for rent is of same value. It could be in tatters inside.
a labour band-aid to cover a gaping wound,,how many more families be homeless by october ??? gobdaws !
Yeah Carol, all sympathy to the landlord i such is the case, but is the solution really transferring the problem to the tenant?
My rent has gone up by €300 in three years. It’s not sustainable. As usual our gov is reactionary. They knew when they brought new rules for buying properties that this would have a knock on effect with the rental market but as usual they wait until there is a crisis.
“they’ll go up according to the market value”
Not if the market value is controlled by a cap on rental increases.
About bloody time they introduced this measure – it’s temporary but badly needed and will stop landlords from hiking rents out of the reach of tenants. A good measure.
Stephen , I agree with you but what if the landlord is genuinely struggling too ?
We’re moving into our new house next week because the house we’ve been in for a little over 2 years, the rent has risen by €500 a month since we moved in. Its not inflation it’s downright extortion! The lovely kicker is that if you’ve been in a house for 2 years and 2 months you have to give 56 days of notice to leave, but they can give you 28 days notice of a rental increase! Nice little loophole they’ve got going there
The landlord should sell if it doesn’t suit them
500 a month in two years?? FFS
what % increase is that on your original rent?
I suppose bopter if you were on a tracker and your mortgage payment decreased – then you’d reduce the rent in tandem wouldn’t you – yea, you would alright.
That logic only works if this were the case, it’s not – rents should not be based on the fact that you bought at the wrong time.
And people have the nerve to say that the current situation does not cause homelessness?
Eh,,,, Hello.
Rents cannot currently be increased arbitrarily. They can only be increased once every 12 months in line with market rents.
Increasing rents caused by market supply and demand are not the landlords fault. The initial contract does stick for 12 months after which point it can be reviewed in line with market rents. I didn’t see too much of a clambour for rent controls from 08 to 2011 when rents were in freefall and it was a tenants market.
I agree and market supply and demand will determine the rent the property commands
Is the solution to a govt led problem such as a shortage of available housing the problem of the LL who is already doing the govts job by providing the vast bulk of rental housing required.
The tenant should move if it doesn’t suit them. The LL is more than entitled to get the market value of his property.
That argument can be spun both ways and there was no clambour for rent floors when they fell through the floor from 07 to 2011.
It was a 44% increase from original price. The issue with that notion paul is that while the prtb investigate whether or not the rental increase is fair your stuck in a situation where things have gone sour, a judgement on the case will take at least 6 months at current rates and it is very difficult to move out while the case is being decided on. You also run the risk that they will not find in your favour (not a worry of ours tbh, we’re confident the attempt to rent it at this price wont go well) and you will be forced to backpay the excess, not something that many people can afford to risk frankly. We sought advice from 3 threshold, prtb and a legal advisor, they all told us to cut our losses and get out while we could
“Increasing rents caused by market supply and demand are not the landlords fault”
If I move into a property today that is asking 800 and there’s a big demand and I end up paying 1,000 euro – that is now the market rent.
If a house nearby goes on the market 2 months later and the asking is 1,000 and because of demand it rents for 1,200 – that is now the market rent.
6 months later another house nearby goes on the market asking 1,200 and goes for 1,400 due to demand – that is now the asking.
When I go to renew my yearly lease – the market price is now 1,400 up 400 euro from when I rented it – that is the problem Paul.
“That argument can be spun both ways and there was no clambour for rent floors when they fell through the floor from 07 to 2011.”
No, no, no, no – you see Paul – prices never fell below Rent allowance prices – you see that is the floor.
“Is the solution to a govt led problem such as a shortage of available housing the problem of the LL who is already doing the govts job by providing the vast bulk of rental housing required.”
It is landlords hiking rents out of reach of tenants and refusing to take rent allowance tenants that is causing this wave of homelessness – the government are now finally introducing an emergency measure to stop this.
Most landlords are up to their necks and are gouging tenants to repay their loans to the bank – it is they that should get out, not the tenants.
The problem is that there is no cap on the hikes as is clearly demonstrated by Rebecca.
No matter what way you spin it (and a 40% increase in 8 mths doesnt help your case here) the landlord is not determining the market rent it is supply which they cannot really influence and demand which they definitely cannot influence. The got can influence the former but have instead sat back and let private individuals provide the housing demand they instead should be meeting for decades. Re rent floors if you believe that rent allowance provided such a floor then you are misguided and naive. While a (weak) argument can be made in relation to this for certain areas in say Dublin, Galway and other urban centres the reality is that in the key urban locations close to city centre, colleges, on public transport routes etc the rent allowance segment of thd market does not even come into play. In fact if you look at percentages this proportion of the market account for less than 20% of the total rental market so to suggest that that rent allowance has already established a rental floor is a misnomer. Yes most landlords are up to their necks in debt with approx 70% of landlords having mortgages on these properties and circa 71% of these saying that they have insufficient funds to cover their mortgage payment which is of course compounded by the fact that the got already take 62% of all rent. But hey never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
“Ireland is one of six EU member states that has legislation governing the use of drones.” …. http://www.thejournal.ie ….and no legislation to prevent families being made homeless ….
“No matter what way you spin it (and a 40% increase in 8 mths doesnt help your case here) the landlord is not determining the market rent it is supply which they cannot really influence and demand which they definitely cannot influence. ”
Of course the LL is determining the market rent, did you not read what I wrote.
I didn’t have a 40% increase in wage, the cost of living didn’t increase by 40% and there was zero improvement into the property in 12 months.
“Re rent floors if you believe that rent allowance provided such a floor then you are misguided and naive. ”
No, it is you that is naive – you can check it out for yourself and you will see that when rents fell within the period you outlined – they never fell below the rent allowance threshold – it was quite fine for LL’s to use this as their “floor” when rents fell, but they then totally ignore it when demand is high, supply restricted and then base it on “market” rents which are being dictated by Landlords hiking rents.
“In fact if you look at percentages this proportion of the market account for less than 20% of the total rental market so to suggest that that rent allowance has already established a rental floor is a misnomer.”
“The Rent Supplement scheme costs the taxpayer €298 million annually and supports over 70,000 people.
The review foresees an increase in limits for the scheme risking “several potentially negative effects”.
“For example, it could provide an impetus for current Rent Supplement landlords to renegotiate their lease agreements to the new higher limits, which would impact on all those supported by the scheme.
The review also says a raising of the supplement’s limits could “create new rental floors for all properties in the sector, meaning rent increases for those not in receipt of the subsidy”.
Rent allowance – not the percentage of people on it – creates a floor on rental prices and if increased then landlords will increase asking prices to suit, which then affects private renters – my apologies, but it is you who is very, very naive.
“Yes most landlords are up to their necks in debt with approx 70% of landlords having mortgages on these properties and circa 71% of these saying that they have insufficient funds to cover their mortgage payment which is of course compounded by the fact that the got already take 62% of all rent. But hey never let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
If they cannot cover their mortgages, then they need to do what any business does in that situation and that is accept their losses, negotiate with their banks and get out of the business because they failed.
The concept of basic economics seems beyond you. The LL is not determining the rent it is the market. If the market was not willing to pay the asking rent then the LL would have to reduce the rent to a level that the market is willing to pay. They are more than entitled to maximise the rent that their property can achieve and to suggest otherwise is naive. If say the price of diesal increases by 40% yoy and your income remains the same what is your argument then? Your points re a rent floor being provided by rent allowance are absolute nonsense. Rent allowance makes up less than 20% of the 320,000+ rental units and in some areas it does not even come into play. Think IFSC/Docklands, stillorgan, ranelagh, blackrock. what proportion of the rental market in areas like this do you think is rent allowance?? Of course the size of the rent allowance market determines the influence it has on the market. To suggest otherwise is misguided. Re your last point yes LL,s are running a business and as such they should be allowed run it without market manipulation or interference. For most LL,s these properties are investments which they realise will require subsidisation from their own income. They are however entitled to maximise the available market rent they can achieve for their property and thereby reduce the amount they have to subsidise the monthly payments by.
Rents are not based on when a property was purchased. Like everything else they are based on what the market is willing to pay I.e market rent. If you don’t like this concept then buy your own property and see what fun it is to pay a mortgage and pay for a properties upkeep.
Does this guy have any idea of what he is doing ?
what should he be doing?
What do you think.?
No. If he did he would have long introduced far more tenant friendly measures that could have helped a lot of people. All he had to do was pass legislation forcing landlords to give more than a months notice. That could have allowed a lot of people a little breathing room.
Whatever FG do will be pro business, so I hold out little hope of any real reforms
another “under review” crisis.
How is rent control going to prevent homelessness? There’s a shortage of housing out there. Blaming it all on landlords is just the populist line
Who’s blaming landlords?
Do you think in this day and age it is appropriate to dislodge an entire family in 1 month?
There should be 6 months notice.
there is also the dept of social welfare own rules eg. after renting a property for 3/5 years they automatically gain extra rights which include removing the existing tenant and replacing them with whom ever they decide which is not going down well with landlords who are happy with their current tenants but could be landed with the family from hell
^ and therefore need to cut/break the lease to safe guard against the dept. getting the rights, at the cost of sitting tennents
Is it also ok for landlords to be left stuck with non paying tennants for six months
The vast majority do pay their rent. Protecting peoples roof over their heads is far more important than a civil matter between a landlord and non paying tenant.
Two totally different scenarios.
Civil matter? What about accidental landlords (of which I am one) who need the rent I receive to pay my own rent/cover my mortgage. When my tenant refuses to pay rent but still remains in the property for 6 months because, who’s going to stop me defaulting on my mortgage or help me when I’m made homeless because my landlord throws me out?
That’s your problem. every single business has that exact problem in one way shape or form. Just because you’re renting out your house to pay your mortgage doesn’t and shouldn’t give you any special privilege. That’s business.
is there an actual definition of what and accidental landlord is?
two single people with houses getting together and deciding not to sell one?
someone who bought a house they can’t afford and then downsizing and renting their gaff out?
what else?
So for someone who bought a house years ago as an investment for old age, they have tenants who can’t make rent and can’t get rent allowance, should they have to just suck up six months loss? How does he pay his bills during the six months notice. How does he look after his kids and responsibilities. Of course the homeless crisis is disgusting and needs to be tackled, but the financial responsibility can’t be placed landlords. If you’re talking 6 months notice, a deposit would have to cover that, then there is another problem created.
Well Carol. I too rent out property but they are commercial lettings. If I don;t get paid then that’s my problem. It is not the fault of everyone else out there paying their rentals on commercial property, and nor should they be less protected because someone didn’t pay me what was owed.
The problems residential landlords are having are often similar , only they have recourse to action through statutory bodies like the PRTB.
We are talking here about the roof over peoples heads ffs. It doesn’t get any more serious than that. The majority of tenants need protections. Protections that do not currently exist.
Good point Wacky, to balance things this should also be addressed.
It is not 1 month. Notice periods vary from 1 to 4 months depending on time in occupation
Every single business is not subject to market price controls . Every other business is not subject to the same tax treatment whereby the income is treated as unearned and costs that are clearly expenses are not allowed as costs.
Yes, we are talking about the roof over someone’s head. The roof over a landlord’s head is no less important than that of a tenant. No reasonable person would expect a landlord to put a tenant who cannot afford to stay in their property before the care, livelihood, and roof over the heads of his own family. That is what it comes down to in the case of some landlords. It unworkable and unrealistic to expect it of people. By your statements, I believe you are not a reasonable person. Good luck with that.
About 4 years too late. This sorry gov should realise that things shouldn’t be done just because there’s an election coming up and they want your vote. Get kelly and these sad waster politicians out now, they’ve done enough damage to the country.
I’ll vote for anybody in the next election who pledges to reduce pensions of all former politicians to more appropriate levels, and none of this “they cannot be legally changed bull”. The law can very easily be changed, its been very easily changed to suit corrupt politicians in the last few years.
it cannot be legally challenged according to their advice, usually involving the attorney general who happens to be an unelected member of cabinet
weird that!
Well then its independents all the way for me. Lets have a country full of independents until we get a gov that measures up.
‘Rent certainty’, jesus that’s the best that their spin doctors can come up with?
There has been a crisis for most of their tenure, now in the run up to an election, they announce measures. They could have done this at the stroke of a pen, now they’re allowing landlords time to run amok with their rent prices before any controls kick in.
stroke of a pen? in a fascist state maybe.
The country is run by fascists..
“stroke of a pen? in a fascist state maybe.”
They can manufacture emergencies and sit in the Dail till 3 in the morning to protect the haves and have mores, but their hands are tied when it comes to helping young families keep a roof over their heads?
were jammin, most of the problems in Ireland are because the government drew up policies on the back of an envelope or bullied things through at the stroke of a pen. we’ve been too driven by simplistic populism.
There is plenty of evidence from other cities that have introduced rent controls that they can backfire and cause major problems.
I am very concerned about rent controls because if mine go up my the amounts I am seeing other people’s rent go up I will be moving house.
I agree, totally reactive approach as usual, this government seem to be incapable of foresight.
The sad thing is the junior minister who sat on this crises first Jan is now minister of education. Another section of Irish society she can destroy….
In the wake of his conspicuous absence of late, I, for one, look forward to hearing Mr Kelly’s contribution in relation to the rent issue.
I’m sure that, given his reverse Midas touch propensity, it will all be sorted impeccably causing no laughs of derision whatsoever.
Absence?
But look how many Minster for Alan Kelly’s there are. Another one today. Is it a JobBridge scheme? I wouldnt mind being the Minister for Alan Kelly for a day
Not quite enough. Rent controls should be introduced, then everyone knows where they stand
getting there though..
I don’t fully understand how controls work. how is the level set? is the limit in relation to the house price? what if the house price changed?
I would fear if a control was established my rent would actually go up. I would prefer a control on the rate and timing of increases.
You might want to consider what rent controls have achieved in Stockholm first.
Controlling rent once it has achieved an unsustainably high level is not smart.
There must be a way of controlling it at a realistic level though
@stephen kavanagh,
berlin’s system seems really good to me but I can’t see it being managed here
They slow down rent increases by keeping rental contracts within 10% of the median rent of an area.
In some areas they ban holiday rental (e.g. Air BnB)
They even ban luxury renovations in certain areas because they assume these will push up rents.
They also have rules around the powers of evictions
by “keeping rent”, I mean an official body fixes a standard median rent per square meter
Ya Stopit I agree all that probably will never happen here, but it should. It’s just way too precarious for tenants as things stand at the moment, no way to live
Well the timing is there, once a year – and the rate is in line with inflation.
I’d rather they focus on the increasing the supply side of things….
Its all being promised now, you would swear their was an election coming soon, oh wait !!!!!!!!
Is sounds like it’s effectively a better guideline for prospective tenants? So in reality it’ll just put down in writing what we already no. Rent in the cities are gone absolutely bananas and this legislation in the pipeline that’s been worked on for months will do nothing to stabilise or alleviate. Thanks lads!
*we already know*
When the horse has bolted, pointless closing the gate. Populist moves aplenty from FG/LAB as election looms. Remember nothing they do now will be honest. Never forget the lies. Property tax when Enda said it was immoral to tax a home.
Water tax. Lone parent cuts. Tax increases on just about everything, with more to come. USC still there. Homelessness at its highest. Emigration the only way of keeping the dole lines down. Well that and Scambridge, I mean jobsbridge. Yet billions paying off debts of a minute few. Remember Leo ‘ Not another cent ‘. The electorate will be a little wiser this time Enda. Moving families out of the City to hide them, will not save you. Charging the 20 Jobstown personal will not alter peoples opinion to the Austerity policies you have heaped on the country. In fact they, I believe they will not be charged as you realise this will only galvanise the people. Times up Enda , Joan, Alan… Poll booths will be your brutal demise…
Could not agree more, well said.
You know what this will cause? Rent increases! I will put up the rent on every property before the legislation as much as I can. Any landlord who has any sense will do the same.
I know people will hate that but don’t forget the government has been constantly adding charges to landlords. To recoup a €1 increase on cost a landlord has to increase rent by €2 due to taxes. Just simple business and many landlords have negative equity.
Indeed Kal – price gouging. I hope your tenants report you.
As usual you fail to understand. Currently I charge less than I can as do many landlords. The new legislation would curtail how much I can increase the rent forever more. If I leave the rent the same it will reduce my earnings FOREVER. That would mean the neighbouring landlord would be able to charge the market price while I can’t as I am being currently nice to my tenants.
That isn’t price gauging all I am going to do is match the market and nothing illegal and the tenants can’t complain as they are getting cheap rent for years. I also upgraded the property I rent to a B rating so they get better accommodation than my own home and the market. Your view all landlords are evil is pure prejudice and probably jealousy. We provide a service and are heavily taxed.
Course he does, sure don’t they all????
Too bloody late if you’re homeless thanks to their friends the bankers. I wonder if it will be meaningless legislation due to the TD landlords??!!
Rent control is almost certainly Unconstitutional. It’s Communism.
rent controls are unconstitutional but don’t let the facts ruin a good Alan Kelly story.
for the sceptics:
Blake v. The Attorney General [1982] I.R. 117
Who gives a shite about whether or not it’s constitutional? If it’s needed, it’s needed
LOL. At any given point the government can break the law without any danger. It isn’t like property companies would sue the government. I mean it isn’t like they have lawyers and a ton of money
So we’re a problem of supply and the governments solution is to control…price? What’s lowering prices going to do to supply? Why not try and fix the actual issue at hand.
Stephen, it CAN’T be implemented. Kelly is a liar.
Oh ok Ciaran, sorry I get you, that bloody constitution has a lot wrong with it!
And for those who can’t read:
“Any rent rises that go beyond the consumer price index would only happen in circumstances where rental properties have been upgraded and would therefore justify an above inflation increase.”
No restriction on the rental income you can seek – but a restriction on the amount that you can increase it by.
Paying unsubordinated bond holders from the public purse is also unconstitutional, but with judges these days, anything goes…
If only there was some way to change the constitution…
If your comment is for those who cannot read then I need to point out that it has been a wasted exercise!
No, the wasted exercise is trying point out the difference between rent control and rental increase cap. That is what the proposal is and despite it being there in black and white you ignore it.
If you are unable to cut through the govt spin and see for yourself that introducing a rental cap is in effect the same thing as introducing rent controls then there is not much that I can do to help you. By definition a rental cap imposes a ceiling above which rents cannot go above irrespective of what the market determines the rent to be. It is therefore by extension controlling the rent and is therefore rent control. The concept is quite simple and as you say yourself it is there in black and white but you choose to ignore it.
So we’re a problem of supply and the governments solution is to control…price? What’s lowering prices going to do to supply? Why not try and fix the actual issue at hand.
It’s not lowering the prices ffs, can you people not read?
people renting themselves also need to help cool the market, prices of anything are as much dependent on what people are willing to pay I know some people are unwilling paying high rent but some fools get excited and pay high rent which drives it up for everybody the problems with housing are not all the governments, landlords and banks fault the general public are as much to blame as anyone
Get down the docklands area of dublin start building cheap affordable flats and council flats for less well off and poor of Dublin.
If the Govt wants to look at curbing rent increases they need to look within first. Rent increases are being driven by the Govt themselves. Circa 62% of all rent goes straight back to the Govt through income tax, USC, PRSI and LPT. Another 15% goes on normal business expenses like repairs, service charges etc. Moral of the story is that on a rent of say €1000 per month the landlord gets €230 net and they have to pay a mortgage out of that. Factor in the tax treatment and the fact that the income is treated as unearned and that expenses which are clearly costs are not allowable expenses and you will start to see why we have a housing shortage. This proposal of rent controls will only serve to make it worse as more and more private landlords exit the market.
isn’t it strange that when people who bought overpriced property get in trouble with the mortgage they’re criticised for overstretching themselves but when the buy to let landlords, who made a major contibution to the property bubble, can’t charge exorbitant rents to cover their mortgages, it’s victimisation.
No what is strange is that some people cannot comprehend the concept of a landlord wanting to maximise the rent, as determined by the market that he can achieve for his property. This concept seems alien to people who believe that the LL should instead take a discounted rent to give people a break. A serious does of cop the f**k on is required here.
Who said anything about a discounted rent? You need to cop the f&&& on.
You did although it appears that you are unable to see that. If there is rental cap introduced them by definition it sets a ceiling above which rents cannot go beyond irrespective of market demand and by extension market rent. Based on the current market this will result in a discounted rent. This is after all why it is being introduced. If you are unable either see, comprehend or acknowledge this then there is not much more that I can do to explain it you.
Looks like Communism is alive and well in Ireland!
Swedish economist Assar Lindbeck once wrote, “In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing.”
“This proposal of rent controls will only serve to make it worse as more and more private landlords exit the market.”
It is not rent control – it is a cap on rental increase Paul.
“If the Govt wants to look at curbing rent increases they need to look within first. Rent increases are being driven by the Govt themselves. Circa 62% of all rent goes straight back to the Govt through income tax, USC, PRSI and LPT. Another 15% goes on normal business expenses like repairs, service charges etc. Moral of the story is that on a rent of say €1000 per month the landlord gets €230 net and they have to pay a mortgage out of that.”
And? A landlord is running a business and he needs to make sure that he had invested his money and made the necessary calculations before doing it.
Many people on here are “accidental” landlords – in other words they paid too much, they overstretched themselves or “chose” to keep a house instead of selling it – now they don’t want to absorb any losses – not with the banks and not with the mortgage.
If your LL has 230 left to contribute to HIS loan – then isn’t he lucky – most if us have to repay ours with no help.
This is what is dictating the market – debt, unprofessional amateurs, accidental landlords and people who basically thought they’d make a bundle in the short -term.
You seem to be missing thr point. Yes the LL is overstretched, yes he is struggling, yes he may have bought an investment property at the wrong time etc but none of the aforementioned should prevent the LL from getting the market rent for their property. Everything else is a red herring and if tenants don’t like it then move out or but their own place. If they cannot do either of those things then that is not the landlords fault either. BTW if you believe that placing a cap on rents is not rent control then you most certainly are naive. By definition a rental cap sets a ceiling which the rent cannot increase above irrespective of market forces. This is quite clearly rent control and to suggest otherwise is quite frankly nonsense
Ireland is a failed society unable to elect a Government that can put a framework in place to deliver affordable Family Homes for all its citizens, like for instance France (start at €160,000).
Financial Predators:
Landlords who max your Rent
Banks who max your Debt
Political Parties who max your tax.
Irish seem to leave their brains at home when they go to the Polling Booths to vote.
Ye France is a model to aspire to allright. Racial tensions, high youth unemployment, riots , strikes at the drop of a hat, philandering politicians, footballer cheats etc. A real dream draw it is!
Was this not promised last year. He loves press releases with no action does Alan Kelly.
I was renting a big 4 bedroom house in Lucan 4 years ago for 1100/month (and I thought that was expensive!)
Now I live in a small 3 bedroom unfurnished house in Lucan and Im paying 1400/ month and I had to buy furniture, paint it, decorate it to make it feel like a proper home.
The 4 bedroom houses are now 1600-1800 a month and the decor/ bathrooms/ kitchen are absolutely disgusting in most of them.
How could you possibly put any money aside for a deposit for a mortgage after paying these huge rents?!
have your say