Rent arrears end tenancies in lockdown

At the beginning of lockdown the Government introduced measures to amend the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and better protect tenants.

These measures include a provision which mean it is not possible to terminate tenancies during a period of three months around the lockdown, unless the parties agree or for one of a limited set of reasons.

Those reasons include substantial tenant damage to a property, assault or threats of assault from the tenant, anti-social behaviour, abandonment of the property, and being 60 days (up from 21 days) behind in the rent.

The new rules also specify that tenants who had previously been given notice could stay in their rental property if they needed to during the lock-down period.