The Department of Housing has started reaching out to landlords who have initiated eviction proceedings, reassuring them that upcoming rental reforms taking effect in March 2026 will not impact their existing tenants.
According to emails and letters obtained by The Journal, landlords are being encouraged to “maintain all current tenancies” until the new rules come into force.
“There is no obligation to end any of your current tenancies before March 2026,” the department stated in correspondence to property owners.
Figures released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) last week showed that 5,405 eviction notices were issued in the third quarter of this year.
This represents a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting growing concerns about housing stability.
Clarification on Upcoming Rules
The Department of Housing has specifically targeted landlords who lodged a Notice of Termination (NoT) with the RTB, signaling the government’s intention to clarify the legal framework.
The new legislation, effective from 1 March 2026, will require all newly registered tenancies to have a rolling six-year contract between landlords and renters.
At the end of the six-year period, landlords can reset the rent and return the property to the market.
The first round of rent resets is expected to occur in 2032 under this framework.
The reforms also include a nationwide rent cap, restricting annual rent increases to a maximum of 2% for these new tenancies.
Newly built apartments will be exempt from the rent cap, allowing landlords of these properties to charge market rates.
A landlord who received the department’s email described it as a “begging notification,” claiming it urged him to reconsider eviction proceedings after submitting a notice to quit for his tenants.
The man explained that the properties in question were purchased as part of a long-term family pension plan and that he intended to move a relative into one of the homes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing told The Journal that the emails were intended to address confusion among landlords about the reforms.
“We have received a number of queries from landlords regarding the rental reforms and want to clarify that the upcoming changes will only apply to new tenancies created from 1 March 2026,” the spokesperson said.
The department emphasized that landlords are being fully informed so they can make decisions based on accurate legal guidance.
Specific Conditions for Ending Tenancies
Under the new six-year tenancy framework, landlords will only be able to end agreements under defined conditions.
These include circumstances where tenants fail to meet their obligations, such as rent payments, or when the property no longer suits the tenant’s needs.
Landlords may also increase rents if tenants voluntarily leave a property, but this will not apply in cases of eviction.
No-fault evictions will be prohibited for landlords who own four or more properties, ensuring long-term tenant protections.
Smaller landlords, holding three or fewer properties, will still be able to evict tenants under specific conditions.
Acceptable reasons for smaller landlords to evict include financial hardship or the need to accommodate an immediate family member.
Eviction Trends and Market Impact
The Irish Property Owners’ Association has raised concerns about a potential surge in evictions ahead of the March reforms.
While RTB data shows a 35% increase in notices to quit compared to the previous year, experts caution that the rise may not be as significant as it appears.
At the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, UCD housing policy researcher Michael Byrne noted that third-quarter notices last year were unusually low.
When analyzed over a four-year period, Byrne said the increase equates to roughly 20%, rather than the 35% headline figure.
He also highlighted that only a small portion of tenancies—0.4% of the total market of 240,751 units—received notices to quit, suggesting minimal impact on the wider rental sector.
The Department of Housing’s correspondence aims to ensure landlords have clarity about their rights and obligations.
Officials hope this guidance will prevent unnecessary evictions and protect tenants while phasing in the new rental regulations.
The department continues to stress that the reforms are forward-looking and do not retroactively affect current tenancies.
Landlords are encouraged to remain informed and to seek clarification if they are unsure of their obligations under the upcoming legislation.
By proactively issuing these letters and emails, the government aims to minimize confusion and ensure a smooth transition when the reforms take effect in March 2026.
Source: The Journal
