We are bigger than greed!

One theme that surfaced after the last boom and crash was that as Irish people we had learnt from the experience. Greed had made us blind and going forward we knew that we lost some part of ourselves in the madness.

Bizarrely it appears the lesson wasn't learnt very well. With Rental Property prices back to 2006 rates and in some cases 20% higher with the new Weekly Rentals popping up all over the city. Unfortunately for us the house we are renting us up for sale so we are now looking for a new home to move into at one of the most insane markets we have ever seen. After living in Kimmage for 9 years in a rental and watching the madness ensue we had to leave our lovely home in early 2015. At the time of leaving our landlord was looking to increase the Rent to €1,350. At the time we thought this was a little high although now a year later I wish we had being able to stay. Houses in worse condition of exactly the same size and same distance to town are now looking for €1,800.

To add to the insult the standard of properties is shocking. We viewed a property late last week where the developer owned all 16 townhouses and a block of apartment. It looked like the property had not being updated since it was built new in the late 1980's. Meeting landlords they are telling you that you are lucky that they are painting the interior or putting new furniture in, as their are cues of people who will take anything. Each house we have visited there have being lists of people interested prior to us putting our name on the list. We are checking Daft and MyHome on an hourly basis trying to make sure we are the first to call.

So, what has happened. Well the biggest mistake of course is the Irish Government. As soon as rumour got out that there might be a freeze placed on landlords from increasing their rent prices started increasing. Suddenly we had an increase across the board in Dublin.  Then they came out with their lame excuse of a solution. Rental prices have being increasing continuously in November and December and now January has brought in a new hike again. You can see properties in Dublin where landlords are increasing their prices on listings due to the high volume of calls they are receiving.

Another obstacle appears to be the Letting Agencies. They are trying to get every property that is renting privately and this is causing another price increase as they stick their fee ontop of the rental price. Greed has taken hold and is spreading like wildfire. Another bubble is expanding and who is going to pay this time. So, what have we learnt?

I was heading back to our house last night and passed the new homeless shelter on Thomas St and there was a cue of around 30 people standing outside at 6.30pm in the evening. "Greed is the knife & the scar runs deep." The increase in homelessness in Ireland is all down to greed. We know in our hearts what we did last time was lunacy. Do we want to leave more scars for the generations to come? I believe we have it in us to become the change we wish to see in the world. What can we do to prevent us losing ourselves in this new frenzy that has taken the city by storm?