A CROWD GATHERED outside Dublin City Hall this evening to protest rent increases for council tenants, a change which was passed in a narrow vote by Dublin City Council in November.

31 councillors voted in favour, and 30 voted against the change to rents in November’s annual budget meeting. Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and many Independent candidates were against the increase, while the government parties, Green Party and Labour were among those in favour of it.

Some tenants could face a rent increase of up to 35% under the controversial increase, which is the first planned change to how tenants’ rent is calculated in 30 years. The amount of additional rent people will be expected to pay will be calculated on the basis of their income, and what category they fall into (i.e. single parent households will have a different rate). 

Several politicians attended today’s protest, including People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy and Dublin Central byelection candidates Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin for People Before Profit and Janice Boylan for Sinn Féin.

Dublin Central byelection candidate Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin attended today's protest. Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

Councillors were previously told that the hike in rents is necessary due to the projected cost of carrying out needed maintenance on social housing properties in the city.

Council officials told local councillors there was a €55.6 million funding gap between the cost of running its social housing programme and the combined income from rents and government grants.

But speaking to The Journal at this evening’s protest, Ó Ceannabháin said he believes the rent increases are actually an attempt to align social housing rents with market rents.

“This is obscene. That is what’s behind this. It’s not about maintenance,” he said. “I think we should fight it with everything that we have.”

He said tenants across the inner city are already “fighting tooth and nail” for necessary maintenance work which isn’t happening.

Speaking to The Journal, Dublin City Council said: “Dublin City Council owns and manages close to 30,000 social houses across the City, providing much needed homes for over 70,000 people.”

“Alongside these existing homes, there are currently plans underway to deliver a further 6,900 social homes on Dublin City Council owned land over the next 6 to 7 years. Maintaining these social homes is a significant priority for the Council ensuring that people have a safe and secure place to live.

“Today over 50% of our homes are over 50 years old and need a lot of works to bring them up to modern standards. The City Council needs additional funding to carry out these important works. All the income generated from rents is used to maintain and operate these homes.”

"The absolute cheek of Dublin City Council to add rent to our homes and the absolute conditions that we're living in is disgraceful. Shame on them," a tenant of Oliver Bond House said. pic.twitter.com/sfNyUu2qww

— Sophie Finn (@SophieFinn25) May 11, 2026

In November, the council voted against an amendment to the budget brought by Conor Reddy which would have resulted in a 15% increase on commercial rates rather than residential rate increases.

Ó Ceannabháin said that, if passed, this amendment could have generated a revenue stream without “punishing the poorest people in society”.

The Community Action and Tenants’ Union, known as Catu, and residents of Dublin City Council-owned housing were also at the protest.

Gale, who lives in Oliver Bond House in the Liberties, highlighted the conditions of her housing, which costs €800 monthly.

“The absolute cheek of Dublin City Council to add rent to our homes and the absolute conditions that we’re living in is disgraceful. Shame on them,” she said.

“I bet you not one of [the council members] is living in the conditions. I’ll do a home swap with any one of them, come and live in Oliver Bond, we are living in absolute vile conditions.”

Earlier this week, the Department of Housing withdrew funding for a major regeneration project that was intended to modernise the apartments and address long-standing health concerns affecting people living there.

The flats, built in 1936 in the Liberties, house around 1,200 people across nearly 400 flats. For years, residents have been dealing with persistent issues relating to the quality and safety of their homes, including damp and mould.

Debbie, from Dolphin House, near Rialto, said: “Over the last few weeks, I’ve been very angered like everyone here.” “Let’s all get out and say no way we won’t pay,” she added.

A tenant of George’s Place, Dún Laoghaire, said that he refuses to pay any increase due to the conditions of his home.

“I’m not paying it, they can put me in Mountjoy, I don’t care,” he said.