Eviction ban should be extended until March
Labour Housing Spokesperson, Senator Rebecca Moynihan has called for the eviction ban to be extended until at least March following the announcement that the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is to bring a memo to Cabinet to ban evictions for the six-week period of Level 5 restrictions.
Senator Moynihan said:
“We don’t know what the trajectory of this virus will be with the likelihood that we may be facing in and out of further restrictions into next year. These restrictions disproportionately affect renters who badly need security this winter. The Government’s own monthly homeless figures show that the eviction ban works with a significant decrease in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation in recent months.
“My Colleagues and I have all been contacted by constituents who have been evicted for other reasons other than rental arrears due to the lifting of the eviction ban and we know that the majority of people being made homeless come from the private rented sector and we need to make sure that we are not adding to this problem.
“In July the Labour Party tabled an amendment to give the Minister for Housing the powers to reinstate the ban on evictions for public health reasons in the event of a second wave. If the Minister had accepted our amendment, there would be no need to introduce emergency legislation.
“It is important that renters have certainty at least until March. We know most people who are made homeless come from the private rental sector. Landlords must play their part in fighting this virus, it’s not much to ask that people be allowed to remain in their homes during the worst public health crisis in a generation.