Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan Rent reform: is immediate pain worth uncertain gains?
Jun 13, 2025
Pat Leahy, a seasoned political commentator from the Irish Times, and Ellen Coyne, a political staff member, dive into pressing issues dominating Ireland’s political landscape. They dissect the haphazard rollout of rent reform plans and the political perils of adjusting residential property tax. The conversation transitions to the alarming rise of anti-immigrant sentiments in Northern Ireland, driven by political interventions. Finally, they touch on the escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly Israeli actions against Iran, and share their favorite Irish Times articles.
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Complex Rent Reforms Please No One
- The government's rent pressure zone reforms mix benefits and drawbacks for landlords and tenants.
- The complexity risks unintended consequences and pleases no one politically.
Rent Reform's Short Term Pain
- Rent reforms aim to attract institutional investors with rent resets after six years.
- Short term rent increases cause political pain, while supply benefits remain distant and uncertain.
Housing System Trapped in Complexity
- Successive governments trapped themselves in layers of complex rent regulations.
- Slow administrative and building processes delay any positive housing supply impact beyond electoral cycles.