70 Cork apartment tenants face eviction as result of landlord “renovations” loophole

The Workers’ Party has called on the government to put an emergency bill through the Oireachtas to urgently close a loophole which allows landlords to evict tenants where major renovations are being carried out in a rented home.

Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan (Cork city), said the loophole was being used by landlords as an excuse to evict tenants and re-let the property at an inflated rent with only superficial renovations being carried out.

Cllr. Tynan said the move to evict 70 tenants from a Cork apartment block was only one example of “a stampede by landlords to take advantage of the loophole to massively hike rents”.

He said:  “Tenants simply cannot move out at the drop of a hat and move back in when renovations are finished.  They simply cannot interrupt their lives, seek alternative accommodation for themselves and their belongings and return a few months later.  That is simply unrealistic and in reality this mechanism means permanent eviction”.

Cllr. Tynan said: “In the past we have seen governments move heaven and earth to protect the interests of banks and property tycoons, now we need them to close this loophole which they have created and which is causing real hardship and misery for tenants.  If necessary the Dáil and Senate should sit through the night and close off this loophole to ensure continuation of tenancy.”

“If renovations need to be done it should be carried out on a planned basis and tenants should be able to remain in their homes during works or be provided with alternative accommodation at the landlord’s expense.  This needs to be done, not just for the 70 tenants in this case in Cork but to ensure all tenants have their tenure protected and to prevent this unscrupulous practice by landlords”, said the Workers’ Party councillor.