Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
714. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to providing an exemption in the new tenancy framework for the principal private residences of individuals in long-term nursing home care, where the property is rented solely to meet care-related costs, in order to avoid unintended hardship or conflicts with fair deal repayment timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9796/26]
View answerOn 27 January 2026, the Government approved the publication of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. The Bill and the related Explanatory Memorandum was published on 3 February 2026 and can be found here: www.data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2026/11/eng/initiated/b1126d.pdf
www.data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2026/11/eng/memo/b1126d-memo.pdf.
Sections 12, 13 and 14 of the Bill include a number of provisions, which will allow a smaller landlord (i.e. a landlord who is not a company and has 3 or fewer tenancies) to terminate a Tenancy of Minimum Duration (TMDs). To avoid undue financial or other hardship, a smaller landlord will be permitted under section 14 to terminate a TMD during its 6 year term on the ground of intention to sell -
(a) where the landlord requires the sales proceeds to provide a principal private residence for the landlord or the spouse/civil partner of the landlord;
(b) where the sales proceeds are required to enable the landlord, or spouse/civil partner of the landlord to discharge a debt, or make a payment, of more than 15% of the asking price (expected consideration) that is legally required to be paid within 9 months of the tenancy termination date – including a payment to the Revenue Commissioners, for example, to discharge a debt under the Fair Deal scheme or a tax liability; or
(c) where the landlord or the spouse/civil partner of the landlord -
(i) is a debtor who has appointed a personal insolvency practitioner;
(ii) is adjudicated bankrupt or is subject to proceeding for a declaration of bankruptcy or becomes an arranging debtor, or
(iii) makes a composition or arrangement with creditors.
The forthcoming legal changes will only apply to a new tenancy (i.e. first time tenancy between parties) created on or after 1 March 2026. Tenancies currently in operation will see no change.
A detailed communications campaign by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, will continue to publicise the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026. Up-to-date information is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/government-reforms-to-the-rental-sector-starting-1-march-2026/ .
