'Demonisation of landlords' has led to higher rents, says Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar said 40,000 landlords have left the market in the last number of years and they have not been replaced

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the decision to lift the eviction ban was driven by concerns that keeping it in place would drive more landlords from the market.

The demonisation of landlords by the political system and by society has led to higher rents, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

He said there was a “false argument being made” that there is conflict between the rights of landlords and the rights of renters.