'Relief' for tenants as section of Limerick city now a rent pressure zone

A SECTION of Limerick city is now a designated rent pressure zone, which means landlords will not be allowed to increase rent by more than 4% per year. 

The announcement was made by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy this Thursday morning. 

Limerick City East is included in the rent pressure zone, it has been announced. 

This includes Castletroy, Annacotty, Monaleen, St Patrick's Road, Old Cork Road parts of the city, and Childers Road. 

Minister Murphy said that change, which also newly-applies to Navan, has come into effect "immediately". 

"The Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and will make recommendations for further inclusions as areas meet the criteria," he said. 

Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan, who is a former Housing Minister, welcomed the inclusion of Limerick to rent pressure zones "which will mean that private rents in this part of our city will not be able to increase by more than 4% per year". 

However, she said, it will give "it gives no relief to other parts of Limerick where rents have escalated in recent years". 

"I am still calling for the entire country to be given this kind of protection from unfair rent hikes. I have been consistently raising the Limerick case with Minister Murphy and am pleased that at least some households will now be included," Deputy O'Sullivan said.