Focus Ireland - "worrying" number of landlords issuing termination notices given record homeless figures

Figures released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) today show a continued upward trend in the number of landlords issuing notices of termination (NOTs) to their tenants in the first quarter of this year.

13,800 notices of termination have been issued to tenants since July 2022, a record figure that far surpasses any previous annual figures in Ireland.

The figures from the RTB comes just days after homelessness figures hit record levels, with 12,259 people recorded in emergency accommodation in April. It was the first time that the number had surpassed 12,000, and the rapid growth is largely attributed to the lifting of the eviction ban.

The number of families across Ireland resorting to couch-surfing has dramatically surged by 1,260% in the last three years, as the homelessness crisis has deepened.

These new RTB figures unfortunately  show extremely high levels of eviction notices, with the main reason for these intended evictions being landlords intending to sell their properties. A total of 4,753 NOTs were served in the first three months of 2023, and the breakdown shows that 55% of all notices, 2,631 NOTs, were because of landlords selling up.

Figures released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) today show a continued upward trend in the number of landlords issuing notices of termination (NOTs) to their tenants in the first quarter of this year. pic.twitter.com/rserQgE8wE

— FocusIreland (@FocusIreland) May 30, 2023

Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy Mike Allen said the figures are worrying for everyone, not just homeless charities. "It's highly worrying to see this continued rise of intended evictions at any time, but especially now as the latest figures issued on Friday show a record total of over 12,000 people homeless," said Allen.

Recent efforts to tackle the housing crisis have included the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ Scheme, which allows the Housing Agency to buy rental properties from private landlords who are selling to continue to rent to the tenants living there.

While the scheme was welcomed by housing and homeless organisations, as has been praised by charities such as the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) as "a very important and effective tool", it has had little impact on the rapidly growing number of tenants being evicted across the country. Dublin City Council has so far acquired 18 homes through the scheme, but there are another 387 properties going through the process.

This is just unacceptable
Government must intervene to support @RebeccaHegarty9 and thousands more in her situation#Reinstateevictionban
Extend Tenant In Situ scheme to all tenants facing eviction and unable to find anywhere https://t.co/sRUP7LkTm7

— Rory Hearne (@RoryHearneGaffs) May 22, 2023

"The safety net of the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme introduced at the end of the eviction ban, and the Government’s target of purchasing 1,500 properties with the tenant in the property this year, will likely not come close to the real need of the number of households losing their homes because their landlords choosing to sell unless changes are made now," said Allen.

"These families and individuals who are already receiving state supports to rent their homes need to be protected and are at high risk of homelessness if these properties are not sold while they remain in place.”

The Oireachtas Housing Committee met today to discuss an update on homelessness with representatives from Simon Communities of Ireland, Threshold and the DRHE.