A record number of eviction notices for rental properties was recorded in Ireland in the first three months of the year ahead of the new rental rules which came into effect in March.
That’s according to figures from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), which shows they received 7,062 notices of termination in the first quarter of 2026, up 50% from the same period last year and the highest quarterly figure since the data series began in 2022.
The majority of these termination notices (3,138) were received in February, with another 1,998 in January and 1,926 in March.
The landlord intending to sell the property was listed as the reason for the termination in 60% of cases.
The highest number of eviction notices received in the first quarter were in Dublin – 2,519 – followed by Cork (739) and Galway (446).
Significant rental reforms, which came into effect on March 1st, introduced six-year tenancies of minimum duration and a national 2% cap on annual rent increases.
The RTB figures also show that the standardised average rent for new tenancies now stands at €1,755, up 5% annually. By county, it was highest in Dublin, at €2,322.
The data also show that the number of registered private tenancies rose by 1.4% annually, with the strongest growth rates seen in Approved Housing Body tenancies which increased by 11.9%.
The number of private landlords rose by 1.3% annually to over 105,000, indicating, the RTB says, increased participation in the rental market.
RTB director Rosemary Steen described the increase in eviction notices as “concerning” but said a “downward trend” was now emerging.
“We saw a notable peak in notices of termination in January and February, before a downward trend emerged in March,” she said.
“While any increase is concerning, we know that short-term shifts are likely during legislative transitions, as the market responds to the new regulatory environment.”
Steen said figures for April were not yet available but “the downward trend is continuing”.
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