Evictions set to spike as landlords account for almost half of homes for sale

Evictions are expected to hit record levels again this year.

The latest data from Irish Independent/REA Average House Price Index has revealed that the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) received 5,207 termination notices in the Q4 of 2025; a 41% increase on the previous year.

The Irish Independent revealed that such figures reached highs of 60% in some locations.

This means fewer homes are available to rent, and more tenants being asked to leave, with many renters struggling to find anywhere else to go.

Rental rule changes and stricter regulations are being blamed for the trend, with Real Estate Agents (REAs) across 10 counties citing the recent changes for 40% of their sales.

REA Seamus Carthy in Roscommon, explained: “We are seeing landlords issuing notices to tenants who are remaining in the property past their termination date because they literally have nowhere to rent.

“Typically, this involves small landlords with one property who have formed a good relationship with a tenant over the years, but want to exit the market," he said.

Mr Carthy continued: “However, most are not going to be the person who puts someone on the streets if they have nowhere to go to.

“Overall, landlord sales have risen from 21pc to 29pc nationally in the past year, and that has to have a significant knock-on to the rental market.”

One example of these changing rules is the nationwide expansion of rent pressure zones (RPZs).

Previously limited to cities like Dublin and Galway, RPZs already saw up to a third of Dublin sales coming from former rentals.

The clearest example is Limerick, where 60% of sales were ex-rentals as small landlords moved to sell ahead of the expansion.

James Spring of REA Donohoe Spring in Cavan stated: “Most landlords who would like to sell have now sold, with only a small number remaining who want to sell but have long notice periods, and whose tenants are struggling to find alternative accommodation.”