Housing Minister James Browne has issued a sharp warning that “any landlord in Wexford who breaks the rules will not get away with it” after 36 households in the Hazelwood Estate in Bridgetown were served eviction notices last Friday, a move affecting about 100 residents, including children, and prompting immediate intervention from the State’s rental watchdog.
The eviction notices were delivered just 48 hours before the government’s new rental rules came into effect on March 1st, instantly triggering political scrutiny and fears of mass displacement in a rural community already struggling with a limited housing supply.
The property is understood to be owned by Patchflow Ltd, which did not provide a comment when contacted.
A Shockwave Through the Estate
Tenants across 36 homes received notices instructing them to vacate between May and August. Many residents say the letters arrived “without warning, without consultation, and without any attempt at engagement.”
Families told M10News they were blindsided, with some saying they had lived in the estate for more than a decade and now face homelessness in a county with a near-zero vacancy rate.
Local schools, sports clubs and community groups are also bracing for disruption, as dozens of local children may be forced out of the area in the coming months.
New Rules Give Tenants More Protection — But Landlords Retain Reset Powers
The eviction wave comes amid Ireland’s most significant rental law overhaul in years.
The new rules include:
- A cap limiting rent increases to 2% per year (or inflation) for existing tenants.
- A six-year minimum tenancy length for all new tenancies.
- More stringent requirements for eviction, with an expanded burden of proof on landlords.
- A controversial provision allowing landlords to reset rents to the market rate for new tenancies.
It is this final element that has created confusion and concern over whether landlords might attempt to end existing tenancies simply to secure higher rents, a claim Minister Browne forcefully rejected.
Browne: “Existing tenants have rights. Landlords have responsibilities.”
Minister Browne said he was “very concerned” and emphasised that the new rules cannot be used as a justification for pushing out long-standing renters.
He highlighted a crucial legal safeguard:
“Landlords cannot reset rent for a new tenancy if the previous one ended through a no-fault eviction within the last two years.”
This protection remains in place even if the property is sold, meaning a landlord cannot remove tenants, transfer ownership, and immediately relaunch the property at a higher price.
Browne added:
“I strongly suspect there may be grounds under current rules that may have been breached. Tenants’ rights will be fully applied. I will not stand for misuse of the law.”
He confirmed he has been in direct contact with the head of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), and that the RTB’s National Head of Disputes is travelling to Wexford in person to meet affected families.
Emergency Meeting Held as Council Moves to Support Residents
Wexford County Council convened an emergency information session on Monday, lasting several hours due to the scale of the case.
Political representatives from multiple parties attended:
- Lisa McDonald, solicitor, representing residents pro bono
- Aoife Rose O’Brien
- George Lawlor
Cllr McDonald called the situation “a devastating blow” and questioned why the developer did not explore selling units to existing tenants:
“This seems indiscriminate. Thirty-six households were served notices at once, without dialogue, without options, without any attempt at compromise.”
She added the move may breach the Tyrrelstown Amendment, a key measure in the Residential Tenancies Act designed to prevent landlords from evicting multiple households for mass sale.
RTB Now Investigating for Possible Multiple Breaches
The RTB has launched a formal review of the notices.
Their process includes:
- Check whether 10 or more notices were issued in one development within six months.
- Contact the landlord to remind them of their legal obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act and Tyrrelstown Amendment.
- Write to each tenant advising their right to dispute the notice.
- Treating any ongoing dispute as a suspended eviction — meaning a Notice of Termination cannot take effect while a case is live.
Tenants have 90 days from receiving a notice to file a dispute.
RTB staff have travelled to Hazelwood Estate to provide legal information and support in person.
Residents Face an Uncertain Summer
For the families of Hazelwood Estate, the immediate fear is displacement. Many say they have already begun calling estate agents across Co Wexford, only to find no available long-term rentals.
Local community groups say they are preparing for:
- School withdrawals
- Children are being separated fromtheir friends
- Potential relocation to emergency accommodation
- Financial strain from rising private rents
One resident told M10News:
“We don’t know where we’re supposed to go. There are no houses. We’re terrified.”
Crisis Brings National Rental Tension Into Sharp Focus
While the new rental rules were intended to strengthen tenant security, the Hazelwood case highlights the fragility of Ireland’s private rental market — where a mass eviction by a single landlord can destabilise an entire community overnight.
Minister Browne has pledged ongoing oversight, stating:
“I am watching this case very closely as we gather the facts. If the rules are breached, consequences will follow.”
The RTB is expected to issue further directions in the coming days.
If you want
