Eviction notices rise 41% as rents and tenancies increase across Ireland, RTB reports

The number of registered private tenancies rose by 1.1% year-on-year to 243,598 in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest number since this series began in the second quarter of 2023. File picture

The number of private tenancies registered in Ireland continues to rise, but eviction notices are also increasing, as the State’s rental watchdog said “there are always landlords entering and leaving the market”.

In its latest quarterly update, the Residential Tenancies Board said the average rent being paid in new tenancies rose 5.4% to €1,776 in the year to the end of September 2025, while rents for existing tenancies rose 4.6% to €1,494.

The number of registered private tenancies rose by 1.1% year-on-year to 243,598 in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest number since this series began in the second quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, the RTB said it received 5,207 notices of termination in the fourth quarter of 2025, a rise of 41% on the previous year but down 3.6% on the previous quarter.

Over six in 10 of these notices of termination were because the landlord intended to sell the property.

RTB director Rosemary Steen said it was important to take a “balanced view” even though they are “concerned” by these trends.

“There are always landlords entering and leaving the rental market but it is reassuring to see that the number of registered tenancies rose in Q4,” she said.

“The proportion of tenancies provided by large landlords with 100-plus tenancies also grew for the 10th consecutive quarter, as we continue to see big changes in the shape of the Irish rental market.”

Ms Steen added: “It’s still a very attractive market to invest in. It’s still attracting in people who are willing to invest.

“While we are concerned by trends in the notices of termination, it’s important to take a balanced view.”

The number of landlords across all types has stayed relatively consistent. There were 68,905 landlords with one property in the second quarter of 2024 compared with 69,921 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

New rental rules

The RTB figures come against the backdrop of new rental rules which require all landlords to keep rent increases at a maximum of 2% annually. However, under some circumstances, including if a tenant leaves voluntarily, landlords will be permitted to reset rents to the market rate without a limit.

New tenancies after March 1 will have a minimum duration of six years, while a landlord can reset the rent to market rates after the six years. However, the circumstances in which large landlords in particular can evict tenants are limited.

The new rental rules have led to some notable cases of tenants being given eviction notices en masse before they took effect this month, including a few dozen homes in one area of Wexford and up to 20 families in a Limerick apartment block.

When quizzed on the Limerick case, housing minister James Browne said he “won’t stand for it”, and that he was very concerned by the reports.

Ms Steen said that the RTB is “very conscious that tenancy terminations can be distressing news for the affected tenants and their wider communities”.

“While I don't want to minimise this distress, it's also important that we don't create unnecessary alarm or panic amongst other tenants listening to or reading about these cases,” she said.

Ahead of the introduction of the rules, groups such as the Irish Property Owners Association said the measures would mean the rental market would “suffer”, with many landlords considering exiting the market.

Charities such as Threshold have warned the rules risk driving unaffordability and undermining rental security.

Ms Steen said initial indications from its figure this quarter suggest there has been a “period of high activity” in the sector.

“But when we see the [Q1] report, I don't think we'll see dramatic changes in the number of registrations,” she said.

“What we're seeing is a small cohort of the small landlord group have decided that they wish to exit. In terms of the overall impact of the register, I've not seen anything at this stage that would cause me concern.”

Ms Steen added that the RTB will penalise landlords who breach rental rules, particularly for rent increases in breach of the limits.

“I think it's just really important the word goes out about this like this is really serious in terms of the implications of wrongly setting or increasing rent inappropriately, and we will pursue people who do it,” she said.