A recent survey conducted by property website MyHome.ie has revealed that nearly 50% of Irish citizens believe that rent pressure zones (RPZ) should be abolished as part of the solution to the country’s persistent housing crisis.
The findings come amid growing public frustration with the effectiveness of current housing policies, as Ireland continues to grapple with shortages in both rental and purchase markets.
According to the survey, there appears to be significant public support for alternative approaches to address the housing shortage. Half of respondents indicated they believe tax incentives for developers could be necessary to boost rental supply in the market.
This marks a notable shift in public sentiment, as Irish citizens increasingly look for new solutions to a crisis that has seen rental prices soar in urban centers despite regulatory attempts to control them.
Rent pressure zones were initially introduced as a measure to cap rent increases in designated areas experiencing high demand and limited supply. However, the survey suggests growing doubt among the public about whether this approach has delivered the intended results.
According to The Irish Examiner, the government now faces increasing pressure to reconsider its housing strategy, as this latest data indicates a potential opening for policy changes that could include both the removal of rent controls and introduction of developer incentives to stimulate construction.