New rental laws 'are leading to more notices to quit'

A Louisburgh councillor has warned that new regulations facing landlords are resulting in more families receiving notices to quit their rented homes.

Raising the topic at the December meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Chris Maxwell described the new rules as "counterproductive". 

"Even in the last fortnight in Louisburgh, a dozen families have been told they have to get out of their rented properties. They are already ringing me to ask are there places available for them anywhere. These laws are totally counterproductive, and Mayo County Council will be faced with more people added to the housing waiting list because of them.” 

Cllr Maxwell said he understood the intention behind the regulation was to maybe free up houses so people can afford to buy, but that is not going to happen because the prices of houses at the minute are beyond the reach of ordinary working people. 

“What will happen is vulture funds will buy them up and keep our young families out of them, offering them for rent again at high rents. These laws need to be looked at again, and I urge the government to reconsider them."

Cllr John O Malley said the regulation where tenants can stay in a property for six years once they have completed six months is causing landlords to sell up. He also warned that rural areas need more short-term rental properties.

"They say there are a lot of Airbnbs in the towns but we really need them in the rural areas because I don’t know where people will stay otherwise. They certainly won’t stay in hotels as they are too expensive, so if we get rid of all Airbnbs in this new law, it will not be a good thing.” 

Cllr Harry Barrett said that the number of tenants receiving notices to quit was "exploding" because of the new rules, stating there were 83 termination notices in Mayo in the fourth quarter of 2024 and this had risen to an average of 126 by the third quarter of 2025.

"There is an emergency situation going on. The number of homeless in Mayo is now up to 225, 58 of whom are children, who will be sleeping in hotel beds or unsuitable apartments this Christmas.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.