New figures from the Rental Tenancies Board have sparked a plea for better protections for renters in the private market.

The RTB data shows 614 notices were given to renters by landlords who intended to sell the property in Q4 of 2021.

Labour representative Rebecca Moynihan has called for the urgent implementation of the party's Renters' Rights Bill to end the practice of landlords evicting tenants when selling properties

Senator Moynihan said: "Renters face really serious problems around security of tenure, and these figures point to the need for government to take action now so that renters have better protections. Many renters live in fear of their landlords selling up as it could lead to their eviction from their rented home – a practice that needs to end now by restricting the grounds for evictions as Labour's Bill seeks to do.

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"Our Bill would remove the grounds which allows a landlord to end a tenancy on the basis that they intend to sell the property within three months. The RTB figures are further evidence of how badly needed this measure is to protect renters throughout the country.

"Right now, the thresholds for evicting a good, hard working and loyal tenant is very low. People are often forced to uproot their whole lives at short notice without any good reason. The patchwork effort by government is not working. We need to change the dynamics in the market and provide renters with greater security of tenure."