In excess of 500 landlords at an Irish Property Owners' Association members meeting in Moran's Red Cow Hotel Dublin last night called for the Government to pay market rent for Rent Supplement tenants.
Stephen Faughnan, IPOA Chairman, outlined the distrust that property owners have in accepting Rent Supplement tenants, as the rents are being set by Government rather than the market.
He said: "This may be contrary to the rules of free competition as laid out by the Competition Authority.
"Market rent is defined by law in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. We do not want to see a situation where tenants are forced to find alternative accommodation. Minister Burton is effectively attempting to reduce market rents without any consultation with landlords or tenants."
The meeting at the Red Cow was packed with well intentioned property owners who claimed they now face nothing but problems in keeping going, due to what they described as a "continual assault by Government" with various specific taxes and levies payable by them but which, some or all may be passed on to tenants.
