Renters face return to parents' box room due to eviction threat - SF claims

Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin

Tens of thousands of renters do not know where they will be living in six months’ time due to the threat of eviction, Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson has said.

Eoin Ó Broin has accused the Government of causing a spike in evictions due to rental sector reforms earlier this year, citing data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The data showed that evictions in Ireland reached their highest levels on record at the start of the year, with 7,062 notices to quit in the first three months of 2026.

This is a 51% increase on the same period in 2025, with a particular spike being seen in February ahead of the Government’s new rules.

There were 3,138 eviction notices in February, before falling to 1,926 in March.

The reforms restrict larger landlords from no-fault evictions against tenants, as well as provide six-year tenancies for renters.

However, landlords will be permitted to reset rents to market rates after the six-year period, or if a tenant opts to leave early.

Mr Ó Broin criticised the change, saying rents across the country are high.

“Average rents across the State as of December are around €20,000 a year and in Dublin, average rents at the end of the year are at least €26,000,” Mr Ó Broin said.

“At the same time, the Government is missing its social and affordable housing targets and not enough private for purchase homes are being delivered by the private sector.

“What that means is month after month, thousand upon thousands of renters are now having to look for another home. Those homes, because of the market rent reset are now more expensive than they have ever been.” 

The Sinn Féin TD said people will struggle to find a new home, and renters could end up back in the “box bedroom of their mother and father’s home”, emigrate or enter emergency accommodation.

Mr Ó Broin said it is an “insult” to renters who do not know where they will live in six to nine months’ time for the Government to highlight that notices to quit fell in March compared to February.

“I think the Government would be much better placed at accepting the scale of the problem and taking the kind of the emergency actions that Sinn Féin and the Housing Commission and others have recommended, rather than trying to spin the facts as something other than what they are.”