Doorbell video shows agent linking Wexford eviction notices to new rental rules

Footage of an agent for a landlord attributing the eviction notices served on 36 homes in Wexford to new rental rules "exposes the truth", the Dáil has been told.

The notices of terminations were issued by one developer who owns a number of houses at Hazelwood, Bridgetown, last week.

The notices were issued on Friday, two days before new rental rules were introduced which signalled the end of no-fault evictions through six-year tenancies. Landlords are now allowed to increase rents to market rates in between tenancies when tenants have left of their own accord.

However, housing minister James Browne said on Wednesday he did not "think it's in any way connected to the new rules, but in fairness to those tenants, it must have been absolutely horrifying to receive those notices to quit".

The doorbell camera video, seen by the Irish Examiner, shows an agent for the landlord telling a resident they were being served with a notice of eviction.

“Have you heard about the new rental rules?” the man asks.

“So we’re serving eviction notices.”

Asked by the resident if they were being "kicked out", the man says "maybe not".

“Our view is that they’re very unfavourable to the landlord so we think it’s better just to sell up and get out. We’re giving ourselves the option that we can do that but I tell you, we don’t know how it’s going to pan out over the next fortnight, we’ll say, right. Next week, there’ll be loads of radio shows and political debate,” he said.

“We’ll make the final decision then in about 10 days. That’s the way it’s going.”

The video was raised in the Dáil on Thursday by Labour TD for Wexford George Lawlor, who said the footage showed the evictions were "absolutely linked" to the new rules.

"This has to be investigated, and these tenants must be looked after in the way that they deserve."

In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the new rules were not designed to affect existing tenants and existing tenancies "must be respected". However, he said the video's contents "deserve a substantive reply".

Mr Browne on Wednesday said he was not clear if the evictions had breached existing laws, but he asked the RTB to ascertain whether they had. He added he would refer any case to the RTB, rejecting the idea this case had been given special attention.

"I've asked the RTB to assess the case. If a situation is brought to my attention, I have no difficulty to bring that to the RTB's attention."