Legislation replacing the rent freeze and eviction ban brought in during the COVID-19 pandemic has been made law.
The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins today.
The Bill will replace the emergency measures for people who self-declare a loss of income to the Residential Tenancies Board from midnight tonight.
Those who get on the scheme will have their rent frozen and be exempt from eviction until January 2021.
However, some housing charities raised concerns that the change may result in a spike in homeless figures.
Focus Ireland said yesterday it has a "grave concern" that weaknesses in the Government's legislation to extend protection to renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a fresh surge in homelessness.
It comes after Green Party TDs Neasa Hourigan and Joe O’Brien had their speaking rights removed after breaking ranks with the Government while voting in the Dáil on the Bill yesterday.
Deputy Hourigan voted against the Government on four proposed amendments to the legislation and then voted against the Bill in its entirety.
She subsequently resigned her position as the party’s Chief Whip.
Meanwhile, junior minister Joe O’Brien abstained from the final vote on the legislation.
