Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I begin, I wish to declare an interest. My husband and I jointly own a property and are landlords.

For a policy to be deemed a success, it must be the case that the solutions it proposes do not bring about a worse state of affairs. This is common sense. However, I fear that we are in real danger of creating such a toxic environment for landlords that we may be indirectly making the situation significantly worse for renters. I have submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the protections that can be afforded to decent, socially conscientious and fair landlords who feel they are powerless when it comes to antisocial tenants. They feel trapped by the current eviction ban and can get no satisfaction from the RTB. I am dealing with a landlord who has a tenant who will not vacate the property despite being offered two other social housing units. My understanding is that they are nice houses. I also understand that the tenant actually has the keys to one of them but is refusing to leave the current property, which the landlord has to sell. This is not fair or right and is not treating all concerned fairly.

I accept that the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was meant "to mitigate the risk that persons whose tenancies would otherwise be terminated during that period would be unable to obtain alternative accommodation", but the fact of the matter is that landlords, many of whom are accidental landlords, are exiting the market as quickly as they can. How can this be short-, medium- or even long-term help for renters? I am not convinced that the Bill, as honourable as its intentions are, would help renters. It would actually drive landlords out.

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