Calls for emergency legislation to stop evictions where tenants are paying their rent in full

There has been calls for emergency legislation to stop tenants being evicted from homes if they are paying their rent in full.

The call has come from a Fine Gael TD, who has said landlords are abusing the property market to sell properties - and leave tenants homeless.

Fergus O'Dowd was speaking at a hearing of the Dáil's committee on housing and homelessness.

Landlords are currently allowed to break a lease and evict tenants if they're selling the property - something Deputy O'Dowd says must change: “We cannot accept that families are being put out on the streets of our cities and our towns, by callous and cowardly landlords who are abusing a situation.

“They are exploiting the market, they are looking for people who will pay more and they are creating absolutely appalling conditions for families and I feel very strongly about this.”