Threshold supported over 19,500 households in 2025 as termination notices remain leading concern for renters

According to its Annual Report published today, national housing charity Threshold supported 19,579 households during 2025 and helped 3,704 households to remain in their homes and avoid entering homelessness.

Tenancy termination remained the most common reason renters sought help from the charity, accounting for over one third of new cases. 

Launching its Annual Report at Buswells Hotel today, Threshold said the figures demonstrate the need for continued action to strengthen renter protections and substantially increase the supply of secure and affordable housing.

Threshold welcomed several important housing policy developments over the past year, including the introduction of six-year tenancies from 1 March 2026.

This represents the most significant strengthening of tenant security in the State’s history.

In June 2025, Rent Pressure Zone regulations were extended to all private renters across the country – a change Threshold has long advocated for.

The charity also continues to call for increased Housing Assistance Payment rates – especially given the new rent resetting legislation, greater investment in social and cost-rental housing, and stronger protections for renters facing rising housing costs.

Threshold supports the Housing Commission’s recommendation to increase social and cost-rental housing to 20% of the national housing stock, which the charity believes would reduce pressure on the private rental sector and give more households access to secure and genuinely affordable homes.

During 2025, Threshold continued to bring evidence from its frontline services into national housing policy discussions. The charity:

• Published Renting at the Frontier: Protecting the Right of Licensees, which examined the experiences, vulnerabilities and challenges faced by licensees across the country. Funded through the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s Human Rights and Equality Grant, the report made 13 key recommendations for legislative reform
• Provided detailed analysis of proposed reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act, examining changes to security of tenure and rent-setting mechanisms, made five submissions to Government consultations, and addressed three Oireachtas committees on short-term let regulation and wider housing reform
• Promoted the Scamwatch campaign in partnership with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLE) to protect students from accommodation scams. The campaign gathered more than 1,000 signatures across 11 third-level campuses in support of a third-party rental deposit protection scheme
• Commissioned the first all-island survey of private renters, in partnership with Housing Rights in Northern Ireland
• Engaged at European level with Members of the European Parliament and the European Commissioner with responsibility for housing on rental policy

Commenting on the launch of the report, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD said: “I would like to commend Threshold for the vital work they do and the meaningful impact it has for renters across the country.

“This Government shares their ambition to increase the supply of social and affordable housing and to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions for the rental sector. We are achieving record levels of housing delivery, which will play a key role in offering wider housing solutions to those in the rental sector. As Threshold have acknowledged, reforms introduced by this Government including 6-year tenancies of minimum duration have enhanced security of tenure for renters.

“By continuing to work with Threshold, we can build on progress to date, expanding housing options and strengthening supports for renters.”

Chairperson of Threshold Oliver Holt said: “The charity’s clients reflect the reality of Ireland’s private rental sector today, spanning families, pensioners, students and low-income workers, many of whom have limited housing alternatives. For many, a single event such as relationship breakdown, job loss, illness or landlord action can quickly place their home at risk.

“Ongoing pressures in the sector, including rent increases, poor housing standards, deposit disputes and barriers to accessing social housing, also continue to undermine stability for tenants. 

“Threshold’s mission is two-fold: service provision for renters requiring Threshold’s assistance, and advocacy for housing justice on their behalf. Homelessness continues to break record levels and over 1 in every 3 contacts to Threshold’s services do so because they have received a Notice of Termination.

“Threshold welcomes the new tenancy legislation commencing on 1 March 2026 as a significant step forward in strengthening protections for renters, bringing improved security and greater stability within the private rental sector. 

“Supporting more than 19,500 households and helping 3,704 to avoid homelessness last year alone demonstrates the significant difference Threshold’s work makes. However, these figures also show the sustained pressure renters are experiencing and the continuing shortage of secure, affordable homes.”

Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty said: “The 7.4% increase in new cases reflects both growing demand and the increasing complexity of the situations renters are bringing to us. Many people contact Threshold at an extremely stressful point in their lives, often after receiving a termination notice or when they are concerned that they can no longer afford the rent on their home.

“Stronger tenant protections are welcome, but they must be matched by a substantial increase in secure and affordable housing.

“Increasing social and cost-rental housing to 20% of the national stock, alongside HAP rates that reflect the real cost of renting, would help reduce reliance on an increasingly pressured private rental market.

“Threshold also introduced a refreshed brand identity at today’s launch, designed to improve how our services and advocacy work are communicated and recognised across renters, policymakers and partners, while continuing its focus on preventing homelessness and protecting renters’ rights.

Threshold’s independent and confidential Freephone service remained central to its work in 2025, receiving 34,559 calls.

A new single national phone line increased capacity, reduced waiting times and unanswered calls, and enabled advisers to dedicate more time to complex casework and representation.

The charity moved to a nationally aligned service model last year and amalgamated all regional lines into one number, staffed by trained advisers and supported by continued investment in staff training, coaching and development. New premises in Limerick and the relaunch of Threshold’s refurbished Galway office also further strengthened its national presence.

Threshold also unveiled a refreshed brand identity at today’s launch. The updated brand has been designed to make the charity’s services and advocacy work clearer, more accessible and more recognisable to renters, policymakers and partners while maintaining its core mission of preventing homelessness and protecting renters’ rights.