Waterford renters ‘being punished’ as eviction notices ‘skyrocket’ across county

Waterford renters are “being punished” as eviction notices “skyrocket”, a TD has claimed.

Sinn Féin’s Conor D. McGuinness was reacting to the latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board.

The report showed that while national rents rose by 5 per cent over the past year, rents for new tenancies in Waterford rose by 7.6 per cent.

This means that the average rent in the county now stands at €1,317 per month – which works out at more than €15,800 a year.

In a statement, Deputy McGuinness said: “The latest RTB report shows that rents and eviction notices continue to spiral upwards as the Government’s housing plan continues to fail renters.

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“This is yet again further proof that the Government’s housing plan is not working, and Waterford’s above-average rent inflation underlines how acute the situation has become for workers and families here.

“Meanwhile, eviction notices have skyrocketed. 5,405 notices of termination were issued between July and September of this year alone. That is 35% higher than the same period last year.”

He went on to criticise the Government’s housing policies and outlined the effect he believes they will have on renters.

“The Government’s response has been to punish renters even further. They’ve handed €640 million of taxpayers’ money to developers in a VAT cut for apartments that are already being built.

“And now they want to strip renters of the meagre protection they have against rent hikes.

“From March 2026, landlords will be allowed to reset rents to the highest market level for new tenants.

“For many, this will mean a massive rent hike at the start of a new tenancy, and everyone else will be hit at the end of the six years.

“This means that tens of thousands of renters will see their rents rise – effectively wiping out a decade of protection from the Rent Pressure Zones.”

Deputy McGuinness also outlined an alternative strategy that could have been implemented by the Government.

“The Government didn’t have to do this. They could have increased and accelerated the delivery of social and affordable homes by councils and Approved Housing Bodies.

“They could have supported SME builder-developers to deliver more good-quality private homes for working people to buy.

“Instead, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have chosen, yet again, to punish renters, making them pay for over a decade of their failed housing policy.”

The Sinn Féin TD concluded by calling for a ban on rent increases and for more social housing to be delivered.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. The Government needs to wake up and face the reality that its failing housing plan is the cause of the problem. They need to introduce a three-year ban on rent increases and dramatically ramp up the delivery of social and affordable homes.”

“Renters need a break – not more rent hikes,” he added.

Waterford Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, John Cummins, has been approached for comment.