'We must now see new thinking on the housing crisis' van der Spek

A local Labour Party representative has demanded the government outline the action they will take to address housing debt built up due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Last year's general election candidate for the party, Liam van der Spek, says the crisis has far reaching consequences: “Because of Covid-19 too many people have been unable to keep up with their rent or mortgage payments through no fault of their own. These rent debts and mortgage arrears are a burden on so many families.”

Mr van der Spek's comments comes as the Labour Party table a motion in the Dáil this Wednesday calling for a State scheme to address rent-related debt, and for the banks to stop charging penalties and surcharges on mortgage arrears built up during the pandemic.

“The Labour Party is calling on the government to act to protect people and bring in a scheme to reduce rent related debt, so that they can’t be evicted; and to stop the banks charging people for arrears that were not their fault,” Mr van der Spek said, “It’s time the new government took action on this before it is too late.”

The Labour party representative points to lost of incomes and difficulty meeting housing payments as challenges facing householders whose income has crashed: “I am deeply concerned at the long-term impact of this, when the accumulated debt will crystallise for many households when the economy fully reopens.”

Mr van der Speck said it is time for action: “There is a new Minister and we must now see new thinking on the housing crisis.”