‘It's like the 1980s out there for young people’ - Barrett

LOCAL election candidate Harry Barrett has said the low amount of properties available for rent in the county is making it feel like ‘the 1980s out there for young people’.

Only 34 properties are currently advertised to rent in Mayo on Daft.ie, with just seven around the Castlebar area today (Monday). 

Mr Barrett commented on the lack of long-term letting, which is now causing a major issue for young families trying to find a home to rent in the county.

"Last year a report from Daft.ie showed that rents were at a record high and now we find availability has dropped to an all-time low. It is like the 1980s out there for young people now because they are asked to shell out up to €1600 now for a three-bedroom semi and this is a huge amount of money for any family to find,” said the Independent candidate.

He added: “It stands to reason that if you are paying more for your rent then you were ten, 20 years ago you are poorer and this government has completely failed to regulate the Home market in this county and is making people poorer as a result.”

_{Independent local election candidate Harry Barrett}

Mayo County Council were accused of giving ‘two fingers’ to people looking for affordable housing in the county at a recent meeting.

The council came under fire for not setting any targets for delivery of affordable houses in the coming year. However the local authority’s draft services delivery plan for 2024 promises to ‘develop modern methods of construction and affordable housing schemes for the county’.

Mr Barrett said he will ‘fight tooth and nail to bring more properties onto the market to rent’ and will ‘force Mayo County Council to direct its energies towards building social and affordable homes rather than more Greenways’. 

“It will be the core of my campaign,” concluded the former Labour Castlebar town councillor.