Minister Accuses Dcu Of Hiking Up Rents By Using A Loophole

Dublin City University has been accused by a minister of ‘hiking up rents’ and ‘using a loophole’ by raising the service charge for on-campus accommodation. Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless said he intends to write to DCU asking it to stop the increase in service charges for students living on the Glasnevin campus. Mr Lawless has said while the changes may be ‘within the letter of the law’ they are not ‘in the spirit of the law’. ‘These are publicly funded institutions. We have a student accommodation challenge, and I’m trying to increase that around the country,’ he told RTÉ on his way in to Cabinet on Wednesday. The university increased the service charge – which covers utilities such as gas and electricity – for students from €87 to €130 at the start of this term.

Dublin City University (DCU) did not act “in the spirit of the law” when it increased monthly fees relating to on-campus student accommodation, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless has said. The Minister has written to the president of DCU, Dáire Keogh, asking him to “reconsider and to clarify” the price increase reported by The Irish Times this week. Increases in mandatory monthly service charges this year, covering utilities, combined with separate rent increases, resulted in total monthly payments going up almost 7 per cent. The accommodation complex is based within a rent pressure zone (RPZ), where rent increases are capped at 2 per cent per year or by the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. However, DCU’s approach does not appear to break RPZ rules because the main increase is driven by the service charge and not the rent. Rushanara Ali has previously criticised ‘private renters being exploited and discriminated against’

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls.

We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali is facing calls to resign over her handling of a rental property, following reports she raised the rent at her east London townhouse by £700 weeks after the previous tenants’... Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice. Labour’s homelessness minister is facing criticism for hiking rent on a property she owns by hundreds of pounds, reportedly just weeks after the previous tenants’ contract ended.

Four tenants who rented a house in east London from Rushanara Ali were sent an email last November saying their lease would not be renewed, which also gave them four months’ notice to leave,... Ms Ali’s property was then re-listed with a £700 rent increase within weeks, the newspaper said. Labour’s homelessness minister is facing calls to resign over claims she hiked rent on a property she owns weeks after the previous tenants’ contract ended. Four tenants who rented a house in east London from Rushanara Ali were sent an email last November saying their lease would not be renewed. The i Paper also reported they were given them four months’ notice to leave. Ali’s property was then re-listed with a £700 rent increase within weeks, the newspaper said.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative party chairman, called for the minister to stand down, accusing her of “staggering hypocrisy” over her handling of the rental property. A spokesperson for the minister said: “Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.” The U.S. Department of Justice building is seen in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2024. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

DENVER — The U.S. Justice Department is suing several large landlords for allegedly coordinating to keep Americans' rents high by using both an algorithm to help set rents and privately sharing sensitive information with their competitors to boost... The lawsuit arrives as U.S. renters continue to struggle under a merciless housing market, with incomes failing to keep up with rent increases. The latest figures show that half of American renters spent more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities in 2022, an all-time high. That means exhausting, day-to-day decisions between medications, groceries, school supplies and rent.

It means eviction notices and protracted court cases in which children face the highest eviction rates, with 1.5 million evicted each year, according to Princeton University's Eviction Lab. While the housing crisis has been assigned several causes, including a slump in homes built over the last decade, the Justice Department's lawsuit claims major landlords are playing a part. Ms Ali said she 'followed all relevant legal requirements' LABOUR’S homelessness minister sensationally quit last night following outrage over claims she evicted tenants to hike their rent. Rushanara Ali became the eleventh front bench politician to depart Sir Keir Starmer’s government in just 13 months. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy

You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email.

People Also Search

• Minister accuses DCU of 'hiking up rents' by 'using a loophole'
• DCU should reconsider on-campus student rent hikes, says Minister
• Homelessness minister urged to resign after 'hiking rent at London ...
• Homelessness minister quits after 'hiking rent at house by £700 a month'
• Homelessness minister faces criticism over hiking rent after removing ...
• Labour homelessness minister accused of hiking rent by £700 after ...
• Justice Department accuses 6 major landlords of keeping rents high
• Labour minister quits after 'evicting tenants then hiking rent by £700'
• How Investors Exploit Loopholes To Raise Rent on Affordable Housing