Rents in Ballinasloe

In the last year alone, rents have increased in County Galway by 5%. Galway is one of eight Counties with average rents now standing at above €1,000. At the end of 2020, average rents in Ballinasloe reached €743.72 per month.4 Exactly, one year before, at the end of 2019, the average rent in Ballinasloe was €688.815 representing an increase in rents in Ballinasloe of 7.9% in one year.

As Ballinasloe is not included in the Rent Pressure Zones, rents can increase with little or no protections for Tenants. In some cases, rents are increasing in Ballinasloe by between €300 and €400 per month following rent reviews. This represents an extortionate increase for a tenant and their families especially when these increases come in the midst of a global pandemic. As rents continue to spiral out of control, we need to ban any further increases in order to protect families from homelessness. This needs to be followed by an overhaul of rents in Ireland by linking rents to the Consumer Price Index.

There is also a major issue with supply in Ballinasloe. Today, there are just three properties available for rent in Ballinasloe ranging from a one-bed apartment for €850 per month to a three-bed apartment for €1,125 per month.

Recommendations:

 A 3-year ban on rent increases in the private rental sector (including for HAP tenants)  Introduce a refundable tax credit for private rental tenants to put a month’s rent back in renters’ pockets  Provide for real tenancies of indefinite duration  An NCT style certification for all rental properties to ensure compliance with minimum standards, including fire safety

4 https://www.rtb.ie/images/uploads/forms/RTB_Rent_Index_Report_Q4_2020_updated.pdf 5 https://www.rtb.ie/images/uploads/Comms%20and%20Research/RTB_Rent_Index_2019_Q4_%284%29_FINAL_WEB.pdf