McGrath statement of tax changes for landlords. Same as last year. Will never happen.

I completely agree. I have a rental property in another country. I have thought of selling it to buy an apartment in Dublin for when my kids go to college and rent it out in the meantime. But it is too risky. My concerns are not tax, rather the lack of protection against difficult tenants, the unfairness of how the rent control zones have been implemented, distrust of what current and future governments will do in this space and lastly how the word landlord is prefaced with greedy in this country. The whole thing is dysfunctional. I would be better off putting my money in a global equity mutual fund in the long run.

Tax cuts tied to income. Prob be a 800 tax credit if your income is under 35k. So useless to anyone that is a landlord.

The 14k exemption only applies up to the 14k level. At 14,001, the whole amount is taxable. This means any rent over 1166 PCM would be fully taxed. Landlords would face a risk if they reduce rents to hit this target as if the incentive is removed, it would set a new starting point for RPZ calculations.

If it was a 14k cap that would pretty much rule out all of Dublin which surely defeats the purpose? It would just mean everyone chasing an already limited supply in rural areas.

Of course you are correct, but there are 2 problems with that.

1) The government have a vested interest in keeping the status quo. While someone is overholding, they are not in the homeless stats and the local authority dont have to find emergency accommodation for them. Its easier to let them stay in a private rental past their eviction period. What politician is going to vote for something that will increase homelessness in the short term and put more pressure on Local Authorities again in the short term.

2) Tax breaks sound like they are helping, so the government can say they are dealing with the issue. Whether it works or not is not the point. You'll get the usual statements that "this will encourage more small landlords into the market, and will even encourage some landlords to reduce rents to avail of this tax measure". Sounds great to Joe public and difficult for the opposition to attack. If no landlords take up the tax break because its useless - so much the better (it sounded good and cost very little).

In this case politics will outplay the real solution by some distance.

The only thing I'm holding out for is the tax free 14k. Even 12k would do me and I've no issue signing a long contract. Tenant has been there 8 years now and I've never gone above €1150 in rent despite the same home fetching €1500 now.

But it's harder and harder to justify scrapping by every year when there is potential to sell and clear a good chunk of debt.