Legislation to provide for a temporary ban on tenancy terminations this winter has been approved in the Dáil. The Bill, once signed into law by the President, will delay ‘no fault’ tenancy terminations that are due to occur during the coming winter months from taking effect until after 31 March 2023.
The move was made to protect people from homelessness given the limited options for accommodation on the market. The legislation also covers licences/tenancies in student specific accommodation and student tenancies in the general rental market.
It will still be possible to serve a Notice of Termination during the winter period and the protection introduced today will not extend to a tenant who does not pay his or her rent or is in breach of other tenant obligations. Where the tenant is at fault, the tenancy can be terminated during the winter subject to the usual notice periods to be given. The legislation ensures that where a tenant does not pay rent or engages in anti-social behaviour, they will not be protected by this legislation.
The Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien says the real solution is to increase supply and the latest data from the CSO released yesterday shows that 27,773 new homes were completed in the 12 months to the end of September. This is the highest figure for a 12-month period since 2011.
