Key Takeaways
| Issue | Impact | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Rising evictions | Families facing loss of homes when landlords sell | Tenant-in-Situ scheme allows councils to buy properties and keep tenants in place |
| Budget limits | Councils paused purchases in 2025 after funds ran out | Minister now allows 30% advance on 2026 budget |
| Dublin example | €85m allocation for 2025 completely used up | Can now commit an extra €28.5m worth of acquisitions |
Ireland’s Tenant-in-Situ scheme has been one of the few tools preventing immediate homelessness for families when landlords decide to sell up. But by mid-2025, several councils across the country had used up all their allocations, which left many vulnerable tenants in limbo.
Now, a decision by Housing Minister James Browne has offered a fresh lifeline – local authorities can go ahead with additional purchases worth up to 30% of their 2025 budgets, with the funds guaranteed from the 2026 budget if sales are not finalised this year.
How the Scheme Works
The Tenant-in-Situ scheme enables councils to buy private rental homes where tenants are facing eviction due to a landlord selling. Once purchased, the property is transferred into the social housing stock, allowing the tenants to remain in place.
I’m not saying it is a permanent solution by any means. But for many families, it’s the difference between stability and sleeping rough.
Why the Extension is Important.
The pause in 2025 funding was a major blow. Councils had to stop processing new cases despite rising eviction notices, and a growing number of families were unable to find alternative rental accommodation.
By allowing a 30% advance on next year’s allocation, the Government has:
- Given councils the flexibility to continue buying such homes.
- Reassured families that the scheme hasn’t been stopped and that they are safe.
- Maybe sent a signal that keeping families in place is more cost-effective for the state than emergency accommodation.
Dublin City Council is a clear case study.
It was allocated €85 million in the 2025 budget for the scheme was already spent. With the new approval, the council can now commit to €28.5 million worth of acquisitions before year-end, even if those transactions don’t close until early 2026.
This could mean dozens more families avoid eviction and the trauma of homelessness.
Bigger Picture – A System Under Pressure.
While this is a positive step, it’s only part of a much larger picture:
- Homelessness in Ireland still remains high with over 14,000 people in emergency accommodation. RTE
- Refuge spaces for domestic violence victims are still far below recommended levels. MyLittleHome
- Private rents remain unaffordable for many low- and middle-income households.
The Tenant-in-Situ scheme can help plug gaps, but it cannot solve Ireland’s housing crisis alone.
Conclusion
The Tenant-in-Situ extension is a welcome intervention, and one that will keep more families secure in their homes over the coming months. But I believe it also highlights how dependent Ireland has become on stopgap measures rather than long-term solutions.
Preventing homelessness through schemes like this is vital.
Yet, without serious investment in new social and affordable housing (ie, with the recent Apple tax windfall), the State will remain locked in a cycle of crisis management rather than crisis resolution.
