Residential Tenancies (Illegal Evictions) (Amendment) Bill 2024

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would make it a criminal offence to force a tenant out of a home, and it would let Gardaí arrest someone they reasonably suspect of doing so. It would also give the Residential Tenancies Board power to award up to €40,000 in extra damages where an illegal eviction is proven, and allow it to seek information from other public bodies to identify the landlord. It also widens “improper conduct” to cover intimidation, blocking access to a rented home, or removing a tenant’s belongings.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the creation of an offence of the forcible ending of a tenancy; to provide for a power to award exemplary damages where an illegal eviction has been found to have occurred; to provide for data exchange between Board and Property Services Regulatory Authority and the Revenue Commissioners in order to establish the identity of landlord of a particular dwelling; for those purposes to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004; and to provide for related matters connected therewith.

Last updated 14 November 2024