Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has commented on figures he received from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), which show that the termination of a tenancy before a new part 4 tenancy commences only accounts for 3% of the notices to quit issued by landlords over the past three years.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Minister O’Brien made a big deal about how his new rental legislation would introduce tenancies of unlimited duration for private renters.

“Removing section 34 (b) of the Residential Tenancies Act, which removes an anomaly around the continuation of Part 4 tenancies, does not create tenancies of indefinite duration.

“By claiming otherwise, the Minister is being extremely dishonest.

“The data on the reasons why landlords issued notices to quit was provided to me this week by the RTB.

“The figures show that the termination of a tenancy before a new part 4 tenancy commences only accounts for 3% of the notices to quit issued by landlords over the past three years.

“The main reasons why tenants are evicted are because the landlord wants to sell the property. This accounts for 53% of evictions, while a landlord or a landlord’s family member moving in accounts for 24% of the notices to quit issued.

“The only way to create real tenancies of indefinite duration is to remove these two clauses from section 34 as well.

“Sinn Féin has submitted amendments to the legislation which seek to do this. I would urge government TDs to consider supporting them when the Bill is up again next week.”