Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
196. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will implement a no-fault eviction ban, in line with proposals in the recently published Report on Homelessness. [48321/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 March 2026, the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into operation. The Act provides for a national rent control and significantly strengthens security of tenure for tenants. Effectively, there is a ban on ‘no fault’ evictions for larger landlords (i.e. companies or landlords with 4 or more tenancies) in respect of new tenancies. This cohort currently provide over 55% of all tenancies.
For new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026, the grounds for termination of a 6 year Tenancy of Minimum Duration (TMD) during its term are also more limited for a smaller landlord to the ground of occupation by the landlord and/or an immediate family member and the ground to sell the dwelling if the sales proceeds are required to avoid undue financial or other hardship. A smaller landlord can terminate, as usual, on one or more of the limited grounds at the end of a 6 year TMD.
The policy and legislative reform of the rental market was introduced to both protect tenants while also ensuring that the regulatory system will support investment in the rental market. This investment is key to increasing the supply of properties, and over time, reducing rents.
The introduction of a ‘no fault’ eviction ban would not be in line with the policy measures introduced by Government and would be likely to reduce supply in the rental market. Accordingly, I have no plans to introduce such a measure at the current time.
