5 November 2015, 10am
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Cork branch of the Anti Austerity Alliance – a political party – will hold the second in a series of protests this morning (11am) aimed at highlighting the rents scandal in Cork city and making the case for rent controls.
This morning’s protest will highlight the practice of properties going on the market for a certain price and the price then being raised within a matter of days.
So far this week daft.ie have advertised a property in Knapps Square first listed on October 22 for 1050 euro per month with a current asking price two weeks later of 1100 euro; a property in Patrick’s Hill first listed on October 22 for 1200 euro with a current asking price two weeks later of 1300; and a property at Wandesford Quay first listed on October 28 for 850 euro now listed one week later for 1100 euro.
Cllr Barry told TheCork.ie this morning:“Here we have three properties whose prices have jumped by 5%, 8% and nearly 30% respectively within days of going on the market. The landlords need to explain why this is the case. Is it because the intrinsic value of the property has shot up within a matter of days? Or is it because so much interest was shown in the property by desperate apartment-hunters that the landlord reckoned they could get away with a sneaky price hike?”.
Cllr Barry reiterated his call for strong rent control measures to stamp out blatant profiteering in the rental market.
Today’s protest is the latest in a series of protests being organised by the Anti Austerity Alliance to highlight the rents scandal in Cork. Last week the AAA picketed an apartment complex in Castle St that was charging 1200 euro per month for one bedroom apartments.
