Housing

Rents the state pays for social homes is set to rise by up to 16 per cent

Government opposition says state is actively ‘acting against public interest by pushing up rent levels’ due to decision to link rents to inflation

Pat Davitt, chief executive, Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. ‘There is now another layer of the rental market where higher rents can be charged and increased at larger rates.’ Picture: Fergal Phillips

Rents which the state pays to investment funds and developers to lease thousands of social homes are being increased by between 12 and 16 per cent this year, due to a move in 2019 to link rent reviews to inflation.

Government opposition has said the state is now actively “acting against the public interest by pushing up rent levels” as a result of the decision to link rents to inflation.

Pat Davitt, chief executive of ...