A new tenancy action group in Clare is calling for rent caps to be introduced in the county and ‘major issues’ with dereliction to be addressed.
It comes as a leading housing charity claims the accommodation crisis is taking its toll on the mental health of the people of Clare.
The housing crisis is continuing to bite tenants in this county and beyond.
A quick scan of property website Daft.ie today shows 16 properties available to rent in Clare, the bulk of which are well over €1,000, with plenty fetching €1,500 per month and beyond.
Thousands of people remain on Clare County Council’s housing list, while house prices rises in this county year-on-year have been among the highest in percentage terms in the country.
It’s prompted a meeting this weekend to establish a Clare branch of the Community Action Tenants Union.
Munster Organiser for CATU, Nora Labo, says they’ve already intervened in one particular incident in this county.
The group is urging the local authority here to consider further implementation of compulsory purchase orders of derelict sites to address housing issues.
No area of county Clare is yet considered a rent pressure zone either, with no electoral area having met the requirements set out in current legislation.
However, Tim Hannon, who’s one of the first Clare members of the CATU group, says those requirements need to change.
Threshold says the housing crisis is taking it’s toll on the mental health of people in Clare.
Karina Timothy, who’s the charity’s Western Regional Services Manager, says the lack of rental protection in Clare is adding to the level of concern.
