New Rental Laws Could Drive Up Rents and Evictions, Research Warns

Dublin: Fresh research has once again raised serious concerns about the government’s new rental laws, due to come into force next month, warning that the legislation could worsen Ireland’s housing crisis rather than resolve it. Opposition parties and housing advocacy groups say the bill risks pushing more tenants into insecurity, despite government claims that it will transform the rental market.

A new report funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and carried out by Maynooth University in partnership with the Community Action Tenants Union concludes that the proposed reforms are likely to increase rents, accelerate evictions and contribute to rising homelessness.

Rents, Evictions and Poor Standards

The research, part of the EPA-funded Just Housing project, finds that changes to rent pressure zone (RPZ) rules are expected to raise rents and worsen housing conditions, particularly for tenants renting from corporate landlords. The report also highlights that energy efficiency standards in the private rental sector remain relatively poor, with a low proportion of properties achieving A or B energy ratings.

While the government argues that easing rent controls will attract investment and encourage landlords to upgrade properties, the study suggests the opposite outcome. It warns that allowing landlords to reset rents to market rates every six years—a measure approved by Cabinet last week—could incentivise evictions as landlords seek higher returns.

Risk of Increased Exploitation

According to the report’s author, Dr. Fiadh Tubridy, the new framework may encourage landlords to exploit legal loopholes to remove tenants and increase rents. He warned that the revised RPZ system could create further opportunities for exploitation rather than stability.

The findings are based on Residential Tenancies Board case files and survey responses from dozens of tenants renting from large-scale landlords, documenting widespread examples of substandard accommodation and insecurity.

Dr. Tubridy stressed that Ireland urgently needs clear, enforceable legislation to protect tenants, including minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes and stronger safeguards against eviction.

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