A staggering 90% of tenants who were forced to leave their homes in 2025 did so through no fault of their own. According to a landmark report by the housing charity Threshold, nearly nine out of ten eviction notices issued last year were directed at tenants who were fully up to date with their rent and had complied with all their lease obligations.
The data paints a grim picture of the Irish rental market, where “security of tenure” has become almost non-existent. Instead of evictions being triggered by anti-social behavior or rent arrears, the vast majority are caused by landlords deciding to exit the market or repurpose their properties.
The primary driver behind this crisis is the sale of properties. According to the statistics, approximately 63% of all “no-fault” eviction notices in 2025 were issued because the landlord intended to sell the house or apartment. With property prices reaching record highs last year, many “accidental landlords” from the Celtic Tiger era and small-scale investors chose to cash in on their assets.
The second most common reason cited was “landlord or family use,” which accounted for another 25% of cases. This involves a landlord terminating a tenancy so that they or a family member can move into the property. While legally permissible, housing advocates argue that this reason is often difficult for the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to verify, leading to fears of “sham” evictions to bypass rent pressure zone rules.
Behind these percentages are thousands of families, elderly individuals, and young professionals. Threshold’s report highlights that the “no-fault” nature of these evictions makes them particularly devastating. Because the tenants are not at fault, they often feel a sense of betrayal and helplessness.
“Finding a new place to live in the current market is almost impossible,” said a spokesperson for the charity. “When 90% of evictions are no-fault, it means that even if you are the perfect tenant, you are never truly safe. You are always one registered letter away from homelessness.”
In response to the data, the government has pointed to the Tenant-in-Situ scheme, which allows local authorities to purchase properties from landlords who are selling, provided the tenant is a HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) or RAS (Rental Accommodation Scheme) recipient. However, the report notes that this scheme only covers a fraction of those facing eviction. Private renters who do not qualify for social housing supports are often left with no safety net.
Opposition parties have renewed their calls for a permanent ban on no-fault evictions, similar to laws seen in other European jurisdictions. However, the government maintains that a permanent ban would drive even more small landlords out of the market, potentially worsening the supply crisis in the long run.
As 2026 progresses, the 90% figure serves as a stark reminder that the “rental crisis” is no longer just about high prices—it is about the fundamental lack of a place to call home. With thousands more notices expected to expire this summer, the pressure on the state’s emergency accommodation systems has reached a breaking point.
