THIS WEEK THERE was more news on the rental front – with figures from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) showing costs rising faster outside Dublin than in the capital.

Fianna Fáil also sold off Bertie Ahern’s former Drumcondra HQ – the building where he conducted much of his business while still Taoiseach.

The Big Movers

Rent certainty 

New figures from the PRTB this week showed that rents are still on the rise across the country.

This has led to calls from Aideen Hayden, the chairperson of renters’ group Threshold, for rent certainty to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

Speaking about this, she said, “It is now critical that the Government delivers on its promise to bring rent certainty to the private rented sector.”

Threshold regularly assists tenants who are facing demands for 20-40% increases in rent, which they simply cannot afford.

PRTB.ie PRTB.ie

Fancy buildings

This week the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) announced the winners of their Public Choice Award.

Coming out on top in the public vote was St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford. It had previously been destroyed in a fire and has been rebuilt since.

The refitted building has been designed by Fizgerald Kavanagh + Partners. 

Fitzgerald Kavanagh + Partners Fitzgerald Kavanagh + Partners

Court houses

Major reinvestment by a semi-State body is set to see court houses around the country being revamped.

The National Development Finance Agency will be part of a €135 million (ex-VAT) public private partnership (PPP) that will refurbish and upgrade courthouses in seven different regions nationally. There will also be four new courthouses constructed.

Building is expected to begin in November of this year with completion expected towards the end of 2017.

Under Construction

• Do you know which city is the most expensive to live in for ex-pats? (Clue: It’s not Dublin.)
• Billionaires are building waterfalls on their yachts – here’s why.  

HEESEN YACHTS HEESEN YACHTS

• Bertie Ahern’s old Drumcondra-based election office, St Luke’s, has sold for €774,000.
• Since being closed unexpectedly last Friday there has been much speculation about what will now happen to the Clerys building.    

Des Res

You may not be a Beastie Boy, but at least now you can live like one (as long as you have €4.95 million lying around). Mike D’s house in New York has come onto the market. In Business Insider this week, the rapper is praised for the house’s tasteful design.