Government housing chaos caused unnecessary distress for families
Government housing chaos caused unnecessary distress for families - The Labour Party
- Eviction notices withdrawn in Wexford following public pressure
Labour TD for Wexford George Lawlor has welcomed the decision by the landlord who issued 36 Notices of Termination to tenants in Wexford to withdraw those eviction notices, saying the reversal will bring relief to families who had been facing the loss of their homes.
Deputy Lawlor said:
“I welcome the decision to withdraw the Notices of Termination issued to 36 households in Wexford. This will bring huge relief to families who were facing the devastating prospect of losing their homes. No family should have to live with that level of fear and uncertainty.
“However, this entire episode should never have happened. Over the past number of days tenants in Wexford have endured enormous stress and anxiety because of the chaos surrounding the Government’s changes to rental rules. Families were left fearing they would be forced out of their homes in the middle of a housing crisis where affordable alternatives simply do not exist.
“This situation exposed the deep instability that now exists in the rental market. Tenants are worried about their future and many feel that Government policy has left them vulnerable. When dozens of notices can be issued in one community at once, it sends shockwaves through the entire county.
“The Minister must now ensure that the Tyrrelstown Amendment is fully protected and reflected in the new Residential Tenancies Board legislation. The protections introduced after the Tyrrelstown scandal were designed to stop mass evictions of tenants when properties are sold or ownership structures change. What happened in Wexford shows exactly why those safeguards remain so important and why they must not be weakened in any way.
“My constituency office remains open to anyone who has been affected by these notices or who still has concerns about their rights as tenants. We will work with families to ensure they have the information and support they need and to make sure that tenants are treated fairly.
“The Government must learn from what has happened in Wexford. Tenants need security, clarity and protection in their homes. No community should ever again have to go through the chaos and distress that families here have experienced over the past week.”