Dublin: A housing expert has warned that recent changes to Ireland’s rental laws could lead to a rise in mass evictions, as landlords adjust their strategies in response to the new regulatory framework.
The warning follows reports of eviction notices being issued to residents of 40 homes in Wexford within the first month of the law coming into effect. Similar incidents were also recorded in February, shortly before the legislation was introduced, with further cases emerging in Limerick and Galway.
Under the revised rules, landlords are permitted to align rents more closely with market rates. Existing rents may be increased annually by up to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Additionally, new tenants entering rental agreements from this month are to be offered six-year contracts, aimed at providing greater security of tenure.
Lorcan Sirr, a lecturer in planning and housing at Technological University Dublin, cautioned that the changes could inadvertently incentivise landlords to remove existing tenants in order to reset rents at higher market levels. He noted that rising rents are also likely to drive up overall property values in many areas.
According to Sirr, some landlords may be making strategic decisions to exit current tenancies and re-let properties at higher rates. To counter such practices, the government has introduced provisions preventing properties that were subject to “no-fault” evictions in the past two years from being immediately re-let under new lease agreements.
However, concerns remain that landlords may choose to keep properties vacant temporarily in anticipation of increased property values, particularly as rental income directly influences valuation. Under the new system, permitted rent increases over a six-year period may further enhance asset values, including for vacant units.
James Browne, Minister for Housing, defended the reforms, stating that they are designed to encourage private investment in the rental market and ultimately increase housing supply. The Department of Housing has also expressed confidence that rents will stabilise and potentially decline over time as supply improves.
Opposition voices, however, have raised strong objections. Eoin O’Broin, housing spokesperson for Sinn Féin, argued that the policy effectively incentivises evictions by allowing landlords to reset rents at higher market levels for new tenants. He warned that the restructuring of the rental market could exacerbate instability for renters.
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