The introduction of a Rent Pressure Zone for the Westport Electoral area has not come before time. That's according to local Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn.
The Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien made the announcement yesterday designating the Westport Electoral Area as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ), with immediate effect.
A Rent Pressure Zone is a designated area where rents cannot be increased by more than 4 percent or by the general rate of inflation, and prevents landlords from increasing rents at their own discretion.
The move is likely to be welcomed by tenants faced with rising rents, however, some landlords may not be as welcoming of the announcement
Nationally rents for new tenancies increased by 7.6 per cent, on an annual basis, in the fourth quarter of last year.
The average rent for new tenancies was 1 thousand 5 hundred and seven euro a month.
That's an increase of 2 per cent on the previous quarter.
Councillor Flynn says that while the designation won't solve the housing crisis, but it could help.
He has been speaking to Midwest Radio's Alannah Nolan....
