The number of termination notices received by the Residential Tenancies Board in the first half of the year rose by 58%, compared with the latter half of 2021.
Almost 3,000 notices of termination were received in the first half of 2022, compared to over 1,800 in the final six months of 2021.
According to RTB analysis, most landlords are exiting the market because they want to sell their property.
During the pandemic, there was a noticeable drop off in the number of termination notices being issued to tenants.
However, over the past year that trend has reversed as more and more landlords choose to leave the rental market.
The number of Notices of Termination received by the RTB in the last half of 2021 was 1,845, while the amount it received in the first half of this year was 2,913.
These figures were provided to Sinn Féin and the party is now calling on the Minister for Housing to convene an emergency meeting of stakeholder and opposition parties this month.
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin said that the lifting of the ban on evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic led to a noticeable rise in Notices of Terminations.
The eviction moratorium was lifted in April 2021. The number of Notices of Terminations in the first quarter of that year was 352, however in the second quarter, following the lifting of the moratorium, they more than doubled to 841.
“We do need to seriously consider the reintroduction of the ban on evictions; we do need to see an accelerated programme of councils purchasing properties with tenants in situ with notices to quit, but we also need to look at other measures like possible reform of the tax treatment of landlords,” said Mr Ó Broin.
“The best way to do that is to get us all around the table. Let’s do it in August and let’s put in place a plan.”
In a statement, the Department of Housing said that under its Housing For All plan, 18,000 cost rental units will be delivered by 2030.
It added that there were signs of increased construction activity, which will lead to increased supply.
Meanwhile, there is concern around the impact the rise in termination notices could have on homeless figures.
Simon Communities of Ireland Head of Policy and Communications Wayne Stanley said that unless something significant is done, the homeless figures are set to rise.
He appealed to the Government to introduce measures in the upcoming budget to address the high level of vacant buildings in the country, so that they could be used to house families.
Article Source: Rise in number of termination notices received by RTB – Tommy Meskill – RTE