Chai Brady
Focus Ireland have called for a reintroduction of eviction bans and rent freezes due to recent Covid-19 restrictions as new figures show an increase in homelessness from 8699 in June to 8728 in July. The charity warned of a potential bigger increase in the coming months.
Pat Dennigan, Focus Ireland CEO, said: “As children across the country go back to school we need to ensure that some of the most vulnerable children do not return to homelessness.
“The last six months have proved that one of the best defences against Covid-19 is a stable home. Measures such as the moratorium on evictions and rent freezes have clearly worked as the number of children and adults who are homeless has reduced significantly in the last five months. Since the lapse of the initial ban on evictions and rent reviews, our services are now meeting tenants who are facing notices of terminations and evictions which is deeply concerning. I am asking the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien to reintroduce this legislation.”
He added that while those who have been financially affected by Covid-19 are still protected from eviction and rent increases on the grounds of rent arrears until January 2021, “our research clearly shows the majority of notices of termination are due to landlords selling their property.
“There is no measure to prevent an eviction taking place on this ground, including for a person who lost their job due to Covid-19.”