Ireland needs to set up a rental court to protect renters and landlords, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has said. 

The body has called for one in its pre-budget submission, suggesting a dedicated body would be better placed to deal with rental disputes. 

President Kevin Hollingsworth said there are times when both tenants and landlords would benefit from having a court to deal with issues that arise. 

“[Such as] tenants overholding - which is not giving the property back at the end of the lease,” he said. 

“[Or] the landlord not giving back the deposit.” 

A new apartment block under construction. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Mr Hollingsworth said one of the reasons why so many landlords are exiting the market is because they feel renting out a property has become high risk. 

“We have complex problems and unfortunately the solutions are going to be complex,” he said.

“We need to try and keep landlords in the market because they are exiting en masse and the reason they’re exiting is because of complex rent regulation and the high risks that are involved in renting a property.” 

Between 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, rents in Ireland increased by a further 4.9% on average.

Reporting by James Wilson and Lynsey Dolan. 

Main image: A housing estate in Donegal town. Picture by: Richard Wayman / Alamy