Shocking queues continue for rental property viewings as frustration over landlord TDs grows

A tweet showing lengthy queues for a rental property viewing on the Cabra Road has surfaced, mere weeks after a photo of an identical situation in Drumcondra went viral.

Shares have racked up for this video, with Twitter users calling the scene "disgraceful." Many people who have endured similar experiences are using this visual to share similar stories:

"The reason why I’m literally hours away from being forced to decide whether I must resign from my job and move, because in Dublin today, even when you can afford to live, it doesn’t mean you’ll find a place to. If the last place I just saw goes to someone else, I’m out," one user said.

Another added: "3 years since we start saving for a house and don’t think we are anywhere close to one still by the looks of it."

Other users turned their frustration to the Government:

"Queuing for a Viewing. Homes for All? 'I personally will not apologise for being a landlord.'—Robert Troy. A crisis for tenants a bonanza for #landlords"

"A Fine Gael TD will be along to call these crisis actors any minute now."

People queuing up to view a house on the cabra road. pic.twitter.com/FF3hOFtHQg

— james cullen (@cullenjay01) September 13, 2022

This video comes as an analysis by The Journal has found that seven TDs with letting property interests have no rental income listed from them on the Dáil record.

In a section of the Oireachtas’ Declaration of Interests, it is stated that TDs must state if they own a property from which they receive more than €2,600 annually. Another section asks them to state when they have any land interests.

Six TDs who had declared ownership of rental properties failed to mention if they had received any rental income in a section of the register requiring declaration of income above €2,600. A seventh TD told The Journal that he had declared rental income correctly in his submission, though this is not reflected in the published list.

The seven TDs who listed property in their forms, but did not declare the receipt of any rental income listed are Seán Canney (Ind), Alan Dillon (FG), Johnny Guirke (SF), Michael Healy-Rae (Ind), Matt Shanahan (Ind), the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, Seán Ó Fearghaíl (FF), and Minister for Education, Norma Foley (FF).

Author Rory Hearne shared The Journal's findings on Twitter, saying: "It would make you wonder, if this is what TDs are doing, how many landlords are failing to register with RTB?
In #HousingCrisis it's an utter disgrace that TDs are breaching rules & regulations, and if there is no income, are they just leaving them vacant?"

In a time when queues for rental properties are viral online, is it really appropriate for TDs to be mishandling matters with their rental properties?

The lack of compassion for the Irish people hanging over all of these revelations is not something expected from the Government, especially when we can see how much this issue effects every person on the island.

Check out our article featuring tips for renters from Threshold. Join CATU Ireland here.

READ: Housing Activists on Robert Troy and Landlord TDs - "Privileged groups in Irish society use property as an investment"