Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will immediately introduce a ban on evictions as was done during Covid considering the escalating housing crisis and the urgent need to also put roofs over the heads of those fleeing war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22194/22]
View answerHaving regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19 and in order to mitigate, where practicable, the effect of the spread of that disease, the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for a temporary moratorium on tenancy terminations, other than in exceptional and limited cases during the emergency period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020.
To deliver on the Housing for All commitment, and cognisant of the high demand and pressures in the residential rental sector, the Government has provided for Tenancies of Unlimited Duration through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 to enhance security of tenure for tenants.
All new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than 6 months and no valid notice of termination has been served on the tenant. A landlord may also consent to an existing tenancy being treated as of unlimited duration. Section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 continues to provide that a landlord may validly terminate a tenancy on one or more of seven grounds. This provision respects the landlord’s constitutionally protected right to terminate a tenancy.
In line with section 16(3) of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019, a review of Termination Notice periods under section 66 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 is currently in progress.
I have no plans to introduce a ban on evictions, as to do so would constitute an unjust interference in landlords constitutional property rights and would almost certainly deter landlords staying in
the rental market.
