20,000 tenancies lost as accidental landlords sell up, Sinn Féin claims

Private tenancies fell by 7,000 in the first nine months of last year alone. File picture. 

Calls have been made to ban landlords who got tax breaks to buy properties from selling the homes, unless they keep tenants in place.

Housing minister Darragh O'Brien is under pressure to urgently act to address the rental sector as the number of properties available to tenants plummets.