Fears that new rules could deepen the housing crisis

By Eilís Ryan

Westmeath County Council has received notice from 100 private tenants that they are seeking accommodation due to having received 'notice to quit' (NTQ) letters from their landlords.

Director of services for housing, Jackie Finney, said the council will be monitoring the figures to see if any increase occurs as the March 1 deadline for new rules governing private tenancies come into play – but councillors said they're already receiving representations from tenants facing homelessness.

At the council’s first meeting of 2026, in Mullingar, Cllr Mick Dollard said that all councillors have come into contact with people who have concerns about the terminations of tenancies ahead of March 1.

“In my view - and I'm sure a lot of the other councillors will share my concerns - it's going to exacerbate the situation,” he said.

Cllr Frankie Keena had similar concerns, while Cllr Vinny McCormack was also keen to know when the council could say whether it would be in a position to acquire private rental properties that are being sold. Cllr Paul Hogan noted all of the 2025 budget for the 'tenant in situ' purchase scheme had been spent by the council.

“If we are going to be getting a budget, can we be actively looking at acquisitions now? Because, obviously, they take a long time to finalise. So, if there's a budget coming, I don't think there'll be any harm in starting the process on those acquisitions now where they're deemed necessary,” Cllr McCormack said.

Cllr Ken Glynn said the tenant in situ scheme seemed to have gone backwards rather than forwards, and that flexibility within the scheme was gone.

“The tenant-in-situ scheme is a hugely helpful way to help keep people out of homelessness and to keep people in their homes, so I do think we should be seeking an expanded budget,” he said.

Responding, Ms Finney said the council was continuing to look at properties for potential purchase: “We have seven completed and there are four being reviewed for possible purchase...we're looking at others as well, and there are properties being inspected.”

She said the council does receive approaches from landlords, and follows up on any expressions of interest, but, as the councillors had stated, the scheme was now more restrictive.

“You have to be in receipt of social housing support for over two years; it has to be a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancy or Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), so it is a lot more restricted in terms of the 'tenant in situ' element of it,” she said.