Factsheet for measure
IE-2020-13/819
–
Updated
– measures in Ireland
Restrictions on evictions and rent freezes for landlords
Background information
The housing situation had been a longstanding issue of concern for the Irish public. Mainly due to an undersupply of dwellings, house prices and rents are comparatively among the highest in Europe. Rents or mortgage payments are the largest proportion of income people in Ireland spend. The job or income losses due to the pandemic situation has aggravated this crisis, increasing the difficulty many people face with keeping up with mortgage and rent payments. At the same time, the possibility to find new accommodation is reduced in times of the public health policy with social distancing. As part of its package of 'Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020' the Irish government therefore introduced restrictions on evictions and rent freezes for landlords.
Content of measure
The Government Act includes new measures to protect renters, during the emergency period of 3 months.
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Renters may not be evicted from their home, or
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Be served a notice of termination by their landlord. Notices of termination which the renter had received prior to the emergency period are frozen for the duration of the emergency (3 months).
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It is also prohibited for landlords to increase rents.
All types of rentals are included, such as shared accommodation with the landlord, student accommodation and ‘digs’ type accommodation where meals are provided.
Renters shall continue to pay rent and continue to follow any rules as part of their tenancy.
Renters having difficulties to pay their rents should contact their landlords and possibly agree on a reduced amount for the duration of the emergency measures. For those having lost their jobs or part of their employment income, a means tested social welfare, rental support benefit is available.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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09 June 2021
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In June, new legislation was brought in to protect tenants economically affected by COVID-19, who have fallen into rent arrears and are at risk of losing their tenancy. These include a rent freeze and a 90-day notice period when ending a tenancy. This will continue until 12 January 2022.
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05 March 2021
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The ban on evictions has been extended to 5 April 2021 with a ten-day grace period after this. This was due to the extension of level 5 restrictions until 5 March 2021.
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26 January 2021
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The ban on evictions has been extended to 5 March 2021 with a ten-day grace period after this. This was due to the extension of level 5 restrictions until 5 March 2021.
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20 October 2020
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A general ban on evictions is in place for the six week period from 21 October 2020 that Ireland is in Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 and for any other period when a five kilometre restriction on movement is in place.
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20 October 2020
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In October 2020, an eviction ban was introduced for any period when people’s movement is restricted to 5 kilometres from their home as part of COVID-19 restrictions. This means that tenants cannot be evicted when the country is at Level 5 of COVID-19 restrictions from 31 December 2020 to 31 January 2021 and for a ten-day grace period after this.
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22 June 2020
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The Government agreed to extend the emergency period during which rent increases and tenancy terminations (in all but limited and exceptional cases) are prohibited. The emergency period will be extended to 20 July 2020.
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Use of measure
Not known yet.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Applies to all citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: Unknown
Involvement
No involvement.
Views and reactions
No information available on social partner involvement.
Sources
