Oksana had been renting her one-bedroom flat in Dublin for three years. The rent was always on time, and her relationship with her landlord seemed straightforward enough. Then one afternoon, her landlord called her at work and said casually, "I need you out by the end of the month." There was no letter, no formal notice, no explanation. Just those words on the phone.
Oksana spent the next two weeks trying to arrange things. She was confused and stressed, but she believed she had to go. She started looking for a new place and gave notice at work. Then one day, she came home from her shift to find she couldn't open her front door. The landlord had changed the locks while she was working. Her clothes, her documents, her laptop—everything was still inside. She couldn't get in.
Frightened and angry, Oksana contacted a solicitor. What she learned shocked her: what her landlord had done was illegal. In Ireland, you cannot evict a tenant without a court order, no matter what you say on the phone. You must serve proper written notice, follow strict legal procedures, and get a court judgment. Changing the locks without going to court is not just unfair—it's a criminal act.
Oksana's solicitor filed a complaint with the Residential Tenancies Board and took action. The case was strong: there was no written notice, no court order, and clear evidence of the illegal lockout. The RTB upheld her case, and she was awarded damages for the illegal eviction, plus compensation for the distress and cost of the lockout.
In Ireland, a landlord cannot evict you without a court order, ever. This is protected by the Residential Tenancies Acts. The landlord must give you proper written notice (usually 28 days or more, depending on your tenancy length), and if you do not leave, they must apply to the courts. Only a judge can order you out. Any other method—changing locks, removing your belongings, locking you out, or even a verbal eviction—is illegal and may be a criminal offence. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) can investigate complaints and award damages.
If you have been illegally evicted or locked out, time is critical. You must file a complaint with the Residential Tenancies Board within one year of the illegal act. If you have been denied access to your home or locked out, contact a solicitor and the RTB as soon as possible—ideally within days. The longer you wait, the weaker your case may become, and you may lose the right to claim compensation.
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