Clients of the housing organisation Threshold have experienced unprecedented rent inflation of up to 20 per cent this year, with the "working poor" and others increasingly in arrears or at risk of homelessness, the organisation said yesterday.
Speaking at the launch of its 2006 annual report in Dublin, Threshold chairwoman Aideen Hayden said the number of clients attending it with rent arrears problems had increased by more than 25 per cent last year, a trend which has continued to accelerate.
She called on the Government to provide an emergency payment to help low income tenants.
She said it should also undertake "much needed" reform of rent supplement, by basing qualification for the payment on a means test, rather than on the recipient being in receipt of a social welfare payment, as is currently the case.
"Most of our clients are on low incomes and are increasingly finding themselves in arrears or with spiralling debt problems," Ms Hayden said. "Many face a real prospect of eviction and potential homelessness."
According to Threshold, rents rose nationally by 10 per cent in 2006, with average increases of 12 per cent expected this year. However, it says some of its clients have experienced increases of up to 20 per cent this year, while it recorded 239 illegal evictions last year. It says many of those evicted included families with children.
"Among those most affected by this unprecedented rent inflation are the working poor. Because of their employment status, they are unable to access supplementary welfare and are literally being squeezed out of the private rented market because they cannot afford to cover rent," Ms Hayden said.
She added that those on social welfare are also struggling to make ends meet, and are typically required to pay a "top-up" from their welfare payment to meet the rent increases being imposed by landlords.
The organisation acknowledges some recent improvements in the rental sector.
These included the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Act, offering greater security of tenure, and an action programme on minimum standards to promote better quality accommodation.
But Threshold's director, Bob Jordan, also called for a version of the National Car Test to be introduced for properties here.
This would allow the quality of accommodation to be checked every four years as an "added safeguard", he said.