The Housing Minister has been called to "intervene" after it was revealed that Ireland's biggest landlord is requesting two months rent as a deposit.

Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan said Minister Eoghan Murphy needs to urgently check the legality of the practice by Irish Residential Properties Reit where it is now looking for two months' rent as well as a security deposit.

She said: "Under their statutory powers the Residential Tenancies Board has the power to intervene in situations like this. Minister Murphy should not delay in referring this case to the Residential Tenancies Board to check the legality.

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"Reports show that on average REIT charges €1,500 a month to rent one of their properties. It will become absolutely impossible for people on average incomes to be able to pay upwards of €4,000 to secure a property. This practice by REIT needs to be stopped immediately before it becomes the norm amongst landlords and people on average incomes become priced out of the rental market completely.

"The Government now has a real opportunity to implement the deposit retention scheme that was legislated for in 2015. Labour fought hard to secure this new scheme and it is disappointing that Fine Gael are dragging their feet on this much needed protection that is common in many other countries."

(CD/MH)