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Due to high rents, insufficient inventory, and the inability to pay deposits, rent crises are rarely off the news agenda.
But a new aspect has been discovered in what some commentators have said, that is, the humanization of the rental market is declining.
We have spoken to a tenant who was forced to pay an extra 500 euro deposit, while others were forced to pay pet rent and even provided pet reference letters.
This is the fear factor when talking about this issue. Most of the people we talk to, landlords, property managers, and tenants, want to remain anonymous.
A tenant revealed how her landlord made her pay an extra 500 euros in the rent, and she will have to leave the apartment because she has a dog.
Tenant Addison, who works in Dublin, asked the Wall Street Journal not to use her real name for fear of retaliation from the landlord.
She has lived in the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom, but she believes that the landlord and management company in Ireland have "lost their humanity."
"I didn't have a pet when I signed the lease, but during Covid-19, I found it difficult because I lost contact with my family and other people.
"I think keeping a dog is very important to my mental health. I bought a dog and I really tried to convince the landlord. I sent them photos and tried to explain the situation. I told them that I am a very responsible person. , I will take responsibility and make sure there are no problems.
"They just told me that they would not consider it under any circumstances," she said.
Addison went a step further and received a medical evaluation that supported her view.
"I talked to my GP, and he gave me a note saying that this dog would help me relieve anxiety and isolation, but they still refused. I told them I would file a legal complaint because I didn’t Go anywhere.
“They came back to me and said that they would allow me to keep a dog temporarily for six months, and pay an extra 500 euros in my deposit, and said I must move out,” she added.
She said the landlord told her that she must move out after six months.
Addison said that she worked in a high-paying job and came to Dublin to work for a large international company. But she said that similar experiences of other colleagues made her not recommend Dublin as a place of work.
"Irish people are very kind and kind, but when I talked to the landlord or agency, something happened and they seemed to lose their humanity.
"In contrast, in the United States, if you have a doctor's certificate, they must help you by law. There is legal protection. Irish law does not provide any protection for tenants.
"I think the problem may be greed. People especially take advantage of foreigners who come to work in Dublin.
"Just recently, someone on my team was trying to find a place to rent, and they decided to go home.
"Ireland is losing many good people and the economy will be affected because workers will not come here. I have a friend from Brussels who wants to come to Dublin to work, and I told her I can't recommend it," she added.
"The Wall Street Journal" learned that future renters have provided more pet recommendations, hoping to live with their animals.
Earlier news reported that renters in Dublin’s residential area must pay 75 Euros a month to facilitate their pets. In an interview with RTÉ’s Liveline last week, a prospective tenant talked about how he was told that he had to pay to let his two cats live with him.
The Griffith's Wood development project on Marino Griffith Avenue in Dublin is operated by Greystar, an American company with an office in Dublin. According to a company spokesperson, the real estate developer purchased 300 houses at the site, with rents starting at 2,250 euros per month.
The caller to Liveline claimed that the agency told him that the extra charge for pets of €75 per month would include any damage to property caused by animals.
"Although many rental properties do not allow pets or restrict them to certain areas, Greystar is pet-friendly and allows residents to keep animals at home. Monthly fees or deposits are the standard for modern development projects that allow pets. There is a monthly fee for pets such as cats or dogs that roam freely in the apartment.
"The total monthly fee for one or more pets is 75 Euros to cover soiling and additional wear caused by pets. Greystar said in a statement that for pets that are still included, such as gerbils, hamsters, and birds Class, etc., do not charge any fees.
The Wall Street Journal contacted several rental agencies in Dublin, Galway and Cork. Most people declined to comment, but an anonymous industry insider said that pet rent is not a regular clause of lease agreements.
"My colleagues will not encounter pet rent. In some other countries, the deposit will increase to cover the cost of pets in the property," a source said.
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The lessee stated that at the end of the lease term, it is normal to deduct the repair costs for the damage to the property from the deposit.
The source said that the increase in deposits to cover the cost of pet wear and tear is not uncommon.
The staff of the rental agency said that a couple from South Africa provided a pet referral and they went to Ireland to work in a multinational company in Ireland.
The auctioneer said: “One of the characteristics we saw is that people came to work in Ireland and looked for rental properties that provide pet references.” The pet reference works in a similar way to the previous landlord’s human reference.
The source said: “They will attach photos of dogs or cats or anything else, and they will recommend pets to behave well.”
Labor housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan (Rebecca Moynihan) said that the practice of landlords charging "pet rent" and the practice of prohibiting pets from renting properties must end.
"Animals play such an important role in the lives of many people. It is unfair for many landlords and even approved housing agencies to ban pets.
She said: "This affects everyone, from seniors who move into seniors’ homes but are asked to give up their beloved furry friends, to renters who cannot own family pets."
Moynihan said that collecting pet rentals is "another example" of the imbalance of power in the rental market between renters and landlords.
"The renters are expected to endure the blackmailed rent and be eviction immediately. Many people cannot make this place feel like home.
"The Labour Party's Renters Bill of Rights attempts to change this and create a level playing field for renters, including ending a comprehensive ban on pets in rented houses," she added.
Threshold, a housing charity, also supports the Labor Senator's ban. "Pets are good for mental health, relieve loneliness, and have a place in the family. There is no reason to refuse tenants to provide such companionship or charge excessive fees to keep pets," the organization said.
The British government introduced the Tenant Fees Act to control rental costs in 2019, but it has seen landlords adopt pet rentals. There are similar problems in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States provides renters with detailed recommendations on pet rental rules.
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