Sola Adeniji|M10news|Housing Crisis|27 November, 2025
Ireland has recorded a sharp 35% rise in termination notices issued by landlords in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, new figures show.
Data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) confirm that 5,405 notices were issued between July and September, signalling renewed pressure on already strained renters.
According to the RTB, 61% of all notices were issued because landlords intend to sell their properties.
The trend comes months ahead of significant new government rental rules due to take effect in March 2026, with smaller private landlords appearing to exit the sector before changes arrive.
RTB director Rosemary Steen said the regulator was “concerned” by the pattern emerging in early 2025, noting that both termination notices and landlord numbers warrant close monitoring.
However, Steen stressed that a “measured view” was necessary, pointing out that the rental market experiences a natural churn of landlords each year.
Government Says Tenancies Are Increasing Despite Fewer Landlords
Minister for Housing James Browne acknowledged the reduction in small private landlords but argued that the broader picture remained positive.
He said the latest RTB statistics showed an increase in the number of tenancies nationally, despite departures from the sector.
The report indicates that landlords with portfolios of 100 or more properties have continued to expand, offsetting the decline in smaller operators.
National tenancies rose by 1.9% over the past year, while Dublin’s registered tenancies increased by 4.3%, according to RTB data.
Browne insisted that the fall in landlord numbers would not prompt changes to the upcoming legislation, saying the reforms remain necessary to stabilise the rental market.
Rents, Inflation and Political Clash Over Housing Emergency
The RTB also reported that new tenancy inflation had eased, dropping from 5.5% in the previous two quarters to 4.7% in the second quarter of 2025.
A separate analysis of properties within Rent Pressure Zones found average annual rent growth at 2.15% — down from 2.7% the previous year.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the figures showed that “rents are out of control”, arguing government policy had driven young people out of the housing market.
He cited the case of a couple in their twenties who abandoned hopes of buying a home due to rising rental costs and are now planning to emigrate to Australia.
| Measure | Q3 2025 | Q3 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Notices of Termination issued by landlords | 5,405 | 3,995 | +35% |
| Notices issued due to landlord intending to sell property | ≈3,307 (≈61% of total) | Not provided | — |
| Increase compared to previous quarter (Q2 2025) | Up from 4,728 in Q2 2025 | — | +14.3% QoQ |
Doherty said such cases illustrate the Government “abandoning ordinary people”, and called for a three-year nationwide rent freeze.
Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris rejected the criticism, accusing Doherty of selectively using data and noting that 62% of properties saw no rent increase last year, adding that the extension of Rent Pressure Zones would provide further tenant protections despite the ongoing housing emergency.
