Legislation to provide stay on evictions this winter

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has confirmed that he received Cabinet approval for legislation which will provide a temporary and conditional stay on tenancy terminations this winter.

The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022, will defer no-fault tenancy terminations that are due to occur during the coming winter months from taking effect until after March 31, 2023.

Welcoming the Government’s decision, Minister O’Brien said: “The Government is very aware of the increasing pressure on homeless services, the limited supply in the rental market and the struggles people are facing over the coming winter months. This temporary measure will protect renters who are facing homelessness by deferring any ‘no fault’ tenancy terminations from taking place this winter.

“We are also conscious of the impact of such measures on landlords, particularly our smaller or ‘accidental’ landlords and that is why we are ensuring that where a tenant willfully withholds rent or engages in anti-social or criminal behaviour they will not be protected by this legislation.

“We will continue with the implementation of Housing for All and significantly increasing the supply of housing in this country. While this emergency measure is necessary and will provide assistance in the short term, the long term answer to our accommodation challenges remains an increased and sustainable supply of new housing.”