Labour are calling on the Government and Fianna Fail to back fresh proposals to control rents and end the hoarding of land by developers, writes Juno McEnroe, Political correspondent.

The measures are part of a Bill proposed by the Opposition party, which Labour say will guarantee more certainty for renters as well as home buyers.

Following a recent report which shows rents rising by over 11%, the party today introduced the Social and Affordable Housing Bill to the Dail, calling on other parties to back the plans.

Housing spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said: “Just last week, figures from property website Daft.ie revealed how residential rents have soared across the country by 11.7 per cent year -on-year, in the third quarter of the year.

“This puts enormous pressure on renters and sadly as we’ve been seeing, is driving more and more people out of their homes and onto the streets.”

The party is proposing linking rent increases to the consumer price index. Labour also propose measures to stop developers siting on and hoarding land, by ensuring that compulsory purchases are only allowed at 25% above the value of the property. Labour also want the vacant site levy brought forward by one year.

Labour, when in government, failed to persuade its partners, Fine Gael, to introduce radical rent controls, even though it held the housing ministry.

Fianna Fail today said its front bench would discuss the Labour proposals but that it had previously suggested linking rents to inflation in its own Bill.