Sinn Féin is urging the government to create a system of fair rent regulation.

Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD said it needs to implement a suite of measures to help rental tenants as figures show rent rates continue to rise. He said that Labour in government had failed tenants completely and had only offered promises but delivered nothing.

Figures released by Daft.ie showed rents had gone up by 8.2% in the first quarter of 2015.

Deputy Ellis continued: "The number of rental properties available is at a low point not seen in almost 10 years. Demand for rental properties is very high and so rent rates have soared over the last four years under this government.

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"No measures have been taken to stabilise rent rates and protect tenants, which has led to many ending up homeless and in emergency accommodation. We now spend at least five million a year on hotel rooms for people priced out of rental housing in Dublin. At present there are 1,000 children in emergency accommodation.

"The government have refused to act on out of control rents and the people have suffered for this. Earlier this year, Minister Kelly proposed the ridiculous measure of giving tax breaks to landlords who would consider charging fair rents. He then made vague comments on Rent Certainty at the Labour Conference a few months ago but nothing has been done so far, despite this being an issue from the first day they took office.

"We need a system of fair rent regulation which would set maximum limits for rental by region and quality, limit increases between tenancies, and encourage longer term leases. We also need a binding code of conduct for receivers when it comes to buy-to-let mortgages in distress. These policies will stop the flow of tenants into homelessness by freezing or reducing rent rates and protecting tenancies."

(CD/JP)