By Éimear Stockmann
14 families on the Ballybane Road have been served eviction notices in what a local TD says is proof of the “devastating consequences” of nationwide changes in rental laws.
All of Ireland, including Galway, came under new rental rules from 1 March 2026. The new Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025 changed the legal reasons for which a landlord can end a tenancy, and introduces a national system of rent control.
The new laws only apply to agreements made after 1 March 2026.
All of Ireland is now a Rent Pressure Zone, which means that all private tenancies and student-specific accommodation (SSA) come under pressure zone rules. Their rent can be increased yearly, following inflation. Existing tenancies have a 2% cap, but this is not the case for anything built after 10 June 2025.
The Revised Act allows landlords of private tenancies to reset rent prices to market rate every six years, or whenever a new tenancy begins – contingent on how the last tenancy ended.
The group of tenants on Ballybane Road were given notice of evictions because the landlord said the building will undergo a major renovation.
“This is the latest news of mass evictions happening across the state since the government’s new rent legislation passed”, said Sinn Féin TD for Galway West, Mairéad Farrell.
“When these rules were first mooted, I warned Galway government representatives that this would have a negative effect on renters across Galway. These eviction notices are a devastating consequence of government’s actions.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, explained the reason for the change upon passing the legislation in June 2025.
“We have to strike a balance between landlords, renters, and the urgent need to invigorate more supply of homes, including places to rent as well as places to buy”, he said.
The Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) organised webinars to warn renters of possible evictions.
CATU anticipated that the changes for private renting were not as positive as they may seem.
“This is a political decision being made to favour large landlords and institutional investors so that they can enrich themselves by reaching into the pockets of their tenants”.
CATU spokesperson Aaron Downey, explained that there was a “fundamental contradiction” in the Government balancing landlord profits with rights of tenure for renters: “Increasing landlords’ profits – the only way you’re able to do that is by raising tenants’ rents”.
CATU fears that allowing landlords to re-set rent to market rate will “disproportionately affect” workers and students.
Galway students dread a surge in the average rent price following mass evictions, according to Vice President/Education Officer at the University of Galway, Seán de Búrca.
“The new rental regulations are almost certainly going to cause a surge in the average rent price. For students, who are coming in and out of tenancies more frequently, this surge in rent will be even worse,” he said.