There has been a 39 per cent increase in illegal evictions, according the annual report from the Threshold housing campaign group.
It said illegal evictions, where a tenant is forced from their home either due to physical intimidation or the locks being changed, rose from 141 in 2007 to 196 last year.
Threshold said that in two-thirds of cases the landlord-tenant relationship had broken down and that in the majority of cases, the tenant was not in breach of their obligations.
Tenants claimed to Threshold that evictions had followed requests for repairs or for the landlord’s PPSN. It said a “small number” of evictions had followed anti-social behaviour, such as a house party.
Rent arrears were the reason for the remaining evictions, although Threshold claimed that in many instances the landlord “did not use legal means to reclaim the property”.
“Threshold advisors have noted that a feature of the current downturn is that tenants with relatively small arrears are being forced from their home”.
Of the illegal evictions involving rent arrears, 36 per cent of the tenants owed less than a month’s rent, with the lowest level owed, just €50, according to the report.
Threshold chairperson Aideen Hayden said that if the proposed National Asset Management Agency (Nama) goes ahead the Government should seek to retain housing units and land-banks in areas of demand and retain them.
“During the boom times, housing policy shifted away from State provision of housing to meeting needs within the private rented sector. While private accommodation works for many people, it can be hugely problematic for more vulnerable groups.”
“Rather than selling off these properties to the first carpet-bagger that opens their cheque book, the Government should take a look at the property portfolios and identify those that could be retained to meet housing needs.”