On International Tenant’s Day, national housing charity Threshold has launched its annual Own Your Rights campaign designed to raise renters’ awareness of their rights in the private rental sector.
Now in its fifth year, the Own Your Rights nationwide campaign is aimed at empowering renters, teaching them about their rights, and letting them know about the supports available to them when they contact Threshold’s free advice service.
The charity has created a series of podcast episodes hosted by Megan Kenny, Assistant Manager for the Mid-Western Regional Office which answer frequently asked questions renters have for Threshold advisers, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The two-week campaign will also see a complete takeover of Threshold’s social media platforms, offering renters a chance to test their knowledge of their rights through polls, as well as introducing some of the advisers at the other end of the Freephone helpline on regional radio.
Out of 18,175 households that the charity has worked with so far in 2025, 53% were at risk of homelessness for reasons including tenancy termination. Since the beginning of the year, Threshold have prevented 2,461 households from entering homelessness by providing free and confidential advice, aiding in mediation between tenants and landlords, and representing renters in RTB adjudications and tribunals.
Launching this year’s Own Your Rights campaign, Threshold’s Campaigns Officer Cat Clark said:
“The Threshold Own Your Rights autumn campaign is one of our flagship campaigns, designed to make private renters across Ireland more aware of their rights and of Threshold’s role in supporting them. Given the challenges in the current rental market, we want to make sure that private rental sector tenants understand that protections are in place and where they can go for support if needed.”
“We would encourage all renters to reach out to our team of advisers with any questions they may have – even if they haven’t previously been in touch – and to know that we are here to support them in difficult renting circumstances. We want renters to know they are not alone.”
Case Study: *Niamh’s Story
Niamh got in touch with Threshold after she received a notice of termination from her landlord. As mum to a child with special needs, and having recently had a serious surgery herself, the eviction notice came as a big shock with no previous warning.
After reaching out to Threshold, Niamh spoke to Ciara, Assistant Manager in the Southern Region, who was able to tell Niamh that the eviction notice did not appear to be compliant with the law as it did not include a statutory declaration. Niamh was relieved and managed to stay on in the house. She had a good relationship with her landlord, who was happy to give her more time to remain at the property.
A short while later, Niamh was then issued with a second eviction notice from her landlord which now had the correct paperwork and was thus valid. Niamh’s Threshold adviser was able to support her and her child by issuing a letter to Niamh’s local Council so they would know that she was being legally evicted and could then try to assist her with prioritising her family on the housing list, if possible.
As the eviction notice was now valid, it was a really worrying time for Niamh who was still in limbo knowing that her landlord could legally evict her. Niamh contacted Threshold again, who reassured her, telling her that the landlord couldn’t physically remove her and her family from the property ahead of the terms of the eviction notice, and would need to go through the correct procedures by contacting the Residential Tenancies Board.
Aware of her rights, Niamh was able to work with her landlord to stay until she was able to secure social housing.
*name anonymised
Threshold’s helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am- 9pm at 1800 454 454, with webchat at www.threshold.ie/get-help/ for any renter in need of advice or support.