County councilor ordered to repay $5,700 to her tenant after nearly doubling monthly rent from $727 to $1,678

Rita McInerney, the Councilor for Clare County in Ireland has been ordered to repay her tenant $5,700 over a disputed rent hike. The hike nearly doubles the rent from €650 to €1,500, nearly $727 to $1,678 in US dollars.

The tenant, Bartosz Milinsk approached the Residential Tenancies Board over the case and was handed the victory. The board is a public body set up to maintain a register of all private rented tendencies in Ireland. The board is also tasked with regulating the rental sector in the country. It also resolves disputes between landlords and tenants.

In the case Milinsk, claimed that his landlord, McInerney had increased his rent without providing a valid reason. The case also claimed that the rent hike did not fairly represent the market rent trends.


Milinsk also claimed that Councilor McInerney, later asked him to terminate his lease for the five bed ensuite property. She reportedly requested for the termination so she could herself move into the residence.

The board has now ordered that Councilor McInerney repay the amount to Milinsk within 28 days.

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The Councillor hiked the rent multiple times

Even prior to the nearly double rent hike, Milinsk claimed that his rent had been hiked several times. He had rented the property in April 2016 for €550 each month. In July 2019, the landlord increased the rent to €650. Then she increased Milinsk’s rent to €1,500 in March 2025, with it being effective from June 1, that year.

The landlord also pleaded her side

The councilor in her submission to the board claimed that the previous rent of €650 had been much less than the market rent value at the time. She said that the property had been underperforming and hence she needed to review the rent. She further claimed that when she hiked the rent, the market rent for a 5 bed residence in Clare County was €1,600. She added that there had been 21 similar properties with a rent between €1,750 to €2,000 in nearby villages.

About the lease termination, which was served in March 2026, the landlord said she needed to move back into the residence. She told the board that earlier she had moved in with her parents to care for them, and rented out the 2005-built property. She added that she now needed to vacate her family home as it was owned by her brother under their father’s will.

The board determined that the termination notice was valid. It also ordered the tenant to continue to pay a €650 rent every month until the residence is vacated.

In her statement, McInerney said, “I acknowledge that this was a substantial percentage increase…intended to establish a sustainable rental income that would be fixed for six years, of which close to 50% of the rent earned by any landlord is given to the government in tax”.