Big number of Laois eviction notices as TD says family face being thrown out

A total of 135 eviction notices were served in Laois and Offaly last summer and autumn according to a new report with a local situation.

Data released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on the number of eviction notices served from July to September 2022 also reveals that more people are being told to leave their homes in on the Laois side of the county boundary.

The RTB which is an independent, public body that registers tenancies, resolves disputes and regulates the rental sector found that 88 eviction notices were served in Laois by landlords on their tenants, with 47 being served in the same 3-month period in Offaly.

From July to September last year, 4,741 eviction notices across the state were served.  

An eviction ban has been in place since October 2022 but expires on March 31, 2023. It means that private renters cannot be evicted even if they have been issued with a valid notice of termination.

Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD issued a statement in the wake of the report in which he said the data underlines the need for the Government to reverse its decision to end the eviction ban.

“The figures released by the RTB are truly shocking and worrying. From July to September last year," he said.

“The latest RTB figures show that the scale of homeless risk from April 1st, when the Government’s ban on evictions ends, is much worse than expected.

"Notices issued from July to September would have, in many cases, fallen due from February during the ban period. A huge number of these notices will now fall due in April. This will mean more people than ever before will have to leave their homes. Homeless services will not be able to cope.

"The consequence will be thousands of people forced to stay with family and friends, a rise in rough sleeping, and the prospect of families with children being referred to Garda stations for a safe place to sleep.’’

He outlined a case he is aware of involving a family.

"One working couple and their three young children are facing eviction on May 23. They have made repeated efforts to find affordable accommodation but without success. Each day that passes just adds further stress on them,’’ he said.

Varadkar defends decision to end eviction ban at end of month

Dep Stanley said the Government is not aware of the extent of the problems.

“The Government does not grasp the severity of the situation, and Sinn Féin has written to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urging him to reverse his Government's decision to lift the eviction ban," he said.

He blamed Government failure on the eviction figures saying the private rental sector to meet social and affordable housing need has been relied on for too long.

Laois Government TD explains why he backs lifting of the eviction ban

“For six years, single property landlords have been leaving the market. Despite this, Government has abjectly failed to deliver a sufficient volume of social and affordable housing, or to purchase private rental accommodation with tenants in situ. The consequence is the number of singles, couples, families with children and pensioners facing the harsh reality of homelessness in a matter of weeks.’’

“Government must immediately reverse the decision to end the ban on evictions. Emergency legislation could be brought before the Dáil before the ban ends on March 31st and all renters must be given the protection they deserve," he said.

Landlords would have viewed keeping eviction ban 'a breech of trust' says Laois Offaly Government TD who stands by decision

Dep Stanley added that the Government must accompany an extension of the ban on evictions with emergency measures to extend and expand the tenant-in-situ scheme for social and affordable rental and using emergency planning and procurement powers to target vacant and derelict homes and new building technologies to ramp up the delivery of public housing.