Evictions in the first quarter of this year reached a record high following the introduction of new rental rules, Residential Tenancies Board data has shown.

The RTB quarterly report published on Thursday recorded 7,062 notices of terminations in January, February and March, a rise of 51% from the same period in 2025.

The figures show there were 1,998 notices of termination by landlords in January, an increase to 3,138 in February immediately before new rental rules came into effect on March 1, with a drop back to 1,926 that month.

In total, this was the highest number of quarterly evictions since the RTB began compiling data in July 2022.

Evictions in the first quarter of this year reached a record high following the introduction of new rental rules. Pic: Getty Images

In six out of ten terminations, the landlord stated that they wished to sell the rental property as their reason for seeking to evict the tenant.

In March, six-year ‘Tenancies of Minimum Duration’ were introduced, which restricted no-fault evictions and brought the entire country under Rent Pressure Zone rules which capped annual rent increases to 2% or to the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

Several large landlords made headlines this spring after eviction notices were served to entire apartment blocks and almost 40 homes in one housing estate in Co. Wexford.

The new law was announced last June and criticised by opposition parties and tenants’ unions who claimed they would lead to a significant increase in rents.

The RTB quarterly report published on Thursday recorded 7,062 notices of terminations in January, February and March, a rise of 51% from the same period in 2025. Pic: Getty Images

Sinn Féin spokesman on housing Eoin Ó Broin told Extra.ie on Thursday that he believes the housing crisis will only get worse in the next two years. ‘The numbers are deeply concerning and if the trend in evictions were to continue, we would see almost 30,000 of them this year,’ he said.

Tenants served with a notice of termination during the eviction spike earlier this year will not be required to vacate a property for up to six months but the property market in which they will be searching for a new home is limited, Mr Ó Broin continued. ‘The overall number of private rental tenancies has increased slightly but the registration of new tenancies is slowing. There is now this growing number people needing new rental properties, but fewer will be available than before, he said.

‘Rents are going to rise more dramatically as a large number of people chase fewer rentals and some will be forced to move back home with their parents, forced to emigrate or, in the worst possible scenario, they’ll end up in emergency accommodation.

‘The data is showing that for the private rental sector and the people who are about to be displaced from it, the next 12 to 24 months are going to be significantly worse than what we’ve seen over the last two years.’

Sinn Féin spokesman on housing Eoin Ó Broin. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Mr Ó Broin called for the new rental rules to be reversed and for an emergency ban on evictions and rent increases while an increased social housing development plan could be delivered.

‘This crisis is the direct result of Government policy,’ he added.

Data from the final quarter of last year showed that standardised average rent for new tenancies rose by 5% year-onyear to €1,755, while the average rent for existing tenancies increased by 4.4% year-on-year to €1,503.

Sitting tenants were paying an average of €252 less per month than new tenants, a gap which could widen in the coming months due to people in a tenancy being locked into the capped 2% annual rent increase while new tenants pay the higher market rate.

Dublin had the highest rent for new tenancies of any county at €2,322, and an average of €1,939 for existing tenancies.