A republican socialist group has claimed responsibility for graffiti daubed on two rental properties in Lurgan as part of a campaign targeting what it describes as “exploitative” private rents.
Republican Socialist Action said it carried out “direct action” in the town on Thursday night under its “Drop the Rent” banner.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
In an online statement, the group said two properties – a two‑bedroom flat in Taghnevan and a three‑bed home in north Lurgan – had been “identified as being listed at rents hundreds of pounds above Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates”.
The group described the current LHA rate for a two‑bed property, which it put at £484.60 per month, as a benchmark, and claimed that rents of £700 and above amounted to “profiteering off hardship” in communities “already pushed to the brink”.
“In working-class communities already pushed to the brink, where families are forced to choose between heating and eating, this level of rent is not just excessive, it is exploitation,” the statement read.
“As Republican Socialists, we reject a system where landlords extract wealth from communities while offering nothing in return but insecurity and unaffordable housing. Housing is a right, not a commodity to be hoarded and exploited.”
The group said high private rents were placing particular strain on those on benefits and low and middle incomes, forcing some households to surrender “up to half of their income just to keep a roof overhead”.
It added: “We are calling on the landlord involved to immediately reduce rents to a fair and reasonable level in line with LHA rates.
“Our communities cannot and will not tolerate exploitation. Where the system fails to protect working people, we will continue to take action.”
While the group did not specify the nature of the “direct action”, the PSNI confirmed on Friday that they are probing a criminal damage report in Lurgan.
A police spokesperson said: “Police received a report at around 1.40pm this afternoon, Friday, 1st May, of graffiti on a property in the Drumlin Drive area of Lurgan.
“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 779 of 01/05/26.”
Officers also encouraged anyone with information to submit a report online using the non‑emergency reporting form at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
