Sir, –Yes, there might be insurance issues; yes, it’s not a long-term solution; yes, it’s not strictly legal; and yes, there might even be political ambitions in some of those who are involved; but we should all be proud of Glen Hansard and his friends who stepped up to the mark when “there was no room at the inn” for some of Dublin’s homeless people. – Yours, etc,
NICK CRAWFORD,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The targeting of landlords using their properties for short-term lettings such as Airbnb represents an extraordinary interference with a person’s right to the use and enjoyment of their private property.
Landlords are under no obligation to solve the housing crisis; they have signed no contract to do so and are given no incentive by the authorities to do so.
In fact, they are penalised at every turn with stamp duty, property tax and income tax.
It is time that this country adopted a more co-operative attitude to landlords, stopped treating them like pariahs and gave them tax incentives to help solve the crisis. – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Sir, – If there was one reason, and one reason only, why I hope this Government lasts until at least the end of 2018, it is the homelessness issue.
Simon Coveney and his colleagues have put together a plan that must be allowed to run its course. If it works, Fine Gael will have resolved an issue that has been ignored by many previous administrations. I, for one, wish them a fair wind. – Yours, etc,
DAMIEN CARROLL,
Kingswood, Dublin 24.
Sir, – Una Mullally hit the nail on the head in "Home Sweet Home is the real 'New Politics'" (Opinion & Analysis, December 19th), particularly with regard to derelict buildings. It is not merely a Dublin problem. Such derelict buildings can be seen in every village, town and city in this State. I believe all councils should be obliged to refurbish all such derelict structures before building new houses, and all private derelict structures should be subject to an empty-property tax, say 50 per cent of the relevant local property tax (LPT).
While all four Dublin councils reduced their LPT by the maximum allowable, 15 per cent, Wexford County Council, quite rightly, raised its by 5 per cent.
Many Wexford council tenants do not pay their rent. I feel Wexford is not unique in that respect; there are many people who will never pay for anything if they are allowed to get away with it.
Perhaps you should do a check on the number of Dublin council tenants who do not pay their rent, and the true cost of reducing the LPT. – Yours, etc,
JAMES MORAN,
Bunclody,
Co Wexford.