Dublin, 4 November 2025 — The Irish government has announced sweeping reforms to the rental market aimed at strengthening tenant protections. From 1 March 2026, all new rental agreements will include Tenancies of Minimum Duration (TMDs), designed to provide greater security of tenure and limit landlords’ ability to terminate leases without cause.
Key Features of the Reform
Under the new framework, once a tenant has been in place for six months, they will automatically qualify for a rolling six-year tenancy. During this period, landlords will face strict restrictions on issuing Notices of Termination, with rules varying according to the size of their property portfolio.
- Larger landlords (4 or more tenancies):
- Must provide rolling six-year TMDs.
- Can only terminate for limited reasons, such as a tenant’s breach of obligations or if the property is no longer suitable.
- Will no longer be permitted to end tenancies simply to sell the property, move in themselves, house a family member, substantially renovate, or change the property’s use.
- Smaller landlords (3 or fewer tenancies):
- Must also provide rolling six-year TMDs.
- May terminate during the six-year term only in specific cases, such as landlord hardship, returning from abroad, housing an immediate family member, tenant breach, or property unsuitability.
- At the end of each six-year cycle, they may terminate for broader reasons, including sale, major refurbishment, family use, or change of use.
Policy Goals and Impact
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage stated that the reforms are intended to enhance tenant security while balancing the needs of landlords. By removing the option for larger landlords to evict tenants for reasons such as sale or personal use, the government aims to curb instability in the rental sector and reduce the prevalence of “no-fault” evictions.
For smaller landlords, the rules provide more flexibility after each six-year term, reflecting the different pressures faced by individual property owners.
Broader Context
Ireland has faced sustained pressure to address housing insecurity amid rising rents and limited supply. The reforms are part of a wider government strategy to stabilize the rental market, improve tenant protections, and encourage long-term renting as a viable housing option.
In summary: From March 2026, tenants in Ireland will gain six-year rolling tenancy rights, with landlords’ ability to terminate leases significantly curtailed. The reforms mark one of the most substantial shifts in Irish rental law in recent years, aiming to deliver greater stability for tenants while balancing landlord interests.
Source: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – New rules to protect tenants: Rental market reforms gov.ie.
Residential Rental Property Picture from jeremyscott.ca CC BY-NC 4.0
