Evictions from rented homes in Ireland have reached record levels, with housing observers warning the situation is the worst since 1850.
Figures from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) show that 5,405 eviction notices were issued in just three monthsduring the third quarter of 2025. That is a 35% increase year-on-year and the highest quarterly figure ever recorded.
The surge comes as new rent laws, due to take effect next month, will allow landlords to reset rents to full market rates once a tenant leaves. Many landlords are now issuing notices in advance of these changes.
RTB data shows:
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19,011 eviction notices in 2023
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16,546 notices in 2024
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14,826 notices already issued in the first three quarters of 2025
What’s striking is why tenants are being forced out. Between 2022 and 2025, 61% of eviction notices were issued because landlords intend to sell, not due to rent arrears or tenant misconduct.
Housing analysts say tighter tenant protections, including for long-term tenants of six years or more, have led many small landlords to exit the market altogether. As properties are sold to owner-occupiers, the rental supply shrinks, driving up rents and leaving remaining tenants increasingly vulnerable.
Observers warn the government that issuing 5,000 eviction notices in a single quarter signals a deep structural failure in Ireland’s rental system, one that is rapidly pushing more households toward housing insecurity.