Unprecedented numbers of adults and children could become homeless as a result of the Government’s plan to lift the eviction ban for rented properties.
That is the view of housing charity Threshold, whose CEO John-Mark McCafferty described the decision to lift the ban as ‘disappointing and detrimental’.
In 2022, Threshold became aware of 5,444 newly-created termination cases, where 57% of notices were issued due to the landlord selling.
In 17% of such cases, the landlord and or a family member was moving in.
Mr McCafferty said that the ban on evictions was to provide ‘breathing space’ for positive changes and improvements in supply to take place.
“Unfortunately, we are yet to see the outcome of Government action in this respect. The decision to end the ban at the end of this month will likely make a bad situation worse. It is disappointing and detrimental.”
He added that local authorities are struggling to provide emergency accommodation, and with St Patrick’s Day coming and the tourist season underway, there will be an even greater shortage of such accommodation.
“Evidence from the Residential Tenancies Board and our frontline staff indicate a significant number of evictions are pending.”
He said that some of the measures announced – such as an offer of first refusal to buy a property – may help some renters, however many would not be in a position to do this given “the exorbitant cost of rent and the inability of people to save the significant deposits required as a result.”
