Landlords will challenge the proposed eviction ban in the courts, the Irish Property Owners Association has told Newstalk Breakfast.
Cabinet is today expected to approve legislation that would prevent landlords from issuing eviction notices between November and April.
The law includes exceptions for those who do not pay their rent, damage a property or engage in criminal behaviour.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Irish Property Owners Association Chair Mary Conway said the group plans to take a Constitutional challenge to the laws.
"Storing up the problem"
She said the proposal will simply store up the problem until early next year – with no increase in the supply of housing in the meantime.
“Nothing is going to change between now and March,” she said. “It is storing up the problem.
“Our members are very concerned and we will be looking to take a Constitutional challenge if it comes in.”
Eviction ban
The proposed legislation will also protect tenants who have already been issued a notice to quit – meaning they can’t be evicted if their notice period ends after the legislation is enacted.
It means tenants issued with eviction notices this week will not have to leave their homes until July 2023.
“Our members are completely opposed to this,” said Ms Conway.
“It is not going to make any difference to tenants and then, what happens come March?
“If I was to give a tenant notice today, a tenant that is in a property less than one year [and over six months], it would be 152 days, which would bring it up to March 19th.
A tent in Dublin city centre. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews“There is all this emotive stuff going on at the moment that people are going to be on the streets at Christmas, particularly families with children.
“We’re not going to stop those. Those eviction notices have already been issued.
“So, an eviction ban is not going to make any difference to anybody except it will make the minister feel better that he has done something.”
Homelessness
The Government is moving forward with the legislation after record homelessness figures were recorded for the second month in a row.
Some 10,805 people were living in emergency accommodation in August - 237 more than the previous record figure recorded in July.
The situation has fuelled calls for the eviction ban – with campaigners like Fr Peter McVerry telling Newstalk that it is the only alternative to continuing with “record levels of homelessness.”
Cabinet is due to sign off on the new laws this morning.
