The Labour Party says landlords should not be afraid of new legislation, as it launches its Renters' Rights Bill.
Party spokesperson on housing, Senator Rebecca Moynihan, says it will redress the balance of power in the rental market.
It bill will be introduced in the Dáil next week.
Under the proposals excuses for evictions would be restricted, blanket bans on pets would be lifted and Rent Pressure Zones would be expanded to the whole country.
Senator Moynihan told Newstalk Breakfast that Ireland is lagging behind other countries.
"It's aimed at essentially bringing us in line with European norms - we have some of the weakest rental legislation in Europe.
"And a lot of people who are entering homelessness, families who are entering homelessness, are coming from the private rented sector."
She says the bill would address several issues including security of tenure through banning no-fault evictions.
On rents, she she says more needs to be done.
"The Government's made a very welcome intervention over the summer - where they have linked rent to the Consumer Price Index, as opposed to the 4% - which was becoming a target, rather than a maximum that people could raise rent.
"But what we have done is we've extended Rent Pressure Zones to the whole country, as opposed to just the urban centres they're currently operating in."
Asked about smaller private landlords leaving the market, with larger investment funds buying more, Senator Moynihan says there should be no fear of new legislation.
"There's no evidence that by having proper standards, proper security of tenure that small private landlards are going to leave the market.
"There's no landlord that should be afraid of legislation like this: this is essentially about benefitting people who are in rental accommodation.
"By bringing up quality of rental accommodation and ensuring that tenants have security of tenure, it benefits everybody - including small private landlords, who have clarity on what's expected of them to become a landlord".
