The government has come under criticism for failing to commit to a full eviction ban nationwide.

Labour representative Rebecca Moynihan has urged the government to take action and use this winter to buy housing where there is a tenant in situ.

Senator Moynihan said: "I'm deeply concerned at reports that an eviction ban would be coupled with a tax break for landlords. This simply will not help. Landlords should not be paying less tax than their renters do from their income, unless tied to affordability which should be max the mortgage.

"Every month a renter pays, the equity in the home for the landlord increases.

-- Advertisement --

"There is a fundamental power imbalance between renters and landlords. Landlords who hoped make a quick buck out of the housing crisis can evict loyal, hardworking tenants due to no fault of their own. It's not right and it's not fair.

"Government needs to significantly scale up the tenant in situ scheme so where a landlord is selling up, the property can be bought at market value to keep the renter in the home. This is one tool at the government's disposal to stem the homelessness crisis.

"We totally lag behind other countries on renters rights. If Government wanted to actually fundamentally address the flaws in the rental market, they could fast track Labour's Renters' Rights Bill, which includes measures like a ban on no-fault evictions and a transparency register to stop some landlords' egregious profiteering off the rental crisis.

"Month by month, homeless figures are soaring. The majority of people who enter homelessness come from the private rental market, so an eviction ban coupled with a rent freeze are desperately needed to protect people this winter."