Michael Houghton: 'For many years, I carried a quiet guilt about being a landlord. Now my attitude has started to shift'

"We charge fair rents, maintain the properties properly and treat our tenants like customers. Our goal is to make renting sustainable - for them and for us No matter what new rental law the Government introduces, private landlords continue to sell up in droves. The latest figures from Sherry FitzGerald show that for every three landlords who sell, only one new landlord is entering the market."

"No matter what new rental law the Government introduces, private landlords continue to sell up in droves. The latest figures from Sherry FitzGerald show that for every three landlords who sell, only one new landlord is entering the market. The problem is, we need private landlords. Without them, Ireland's rental crisis will only get worse. It's already hard enough for tenants as it is."

Landlords who charge fair rents, properly maintain properties and treat tenants respectfully aim to make renting sustainable for both parties. Despite such practices, private landlords continue to exit the market in large numbers, with recent data showing that for every three who sell only one new landlord arises. The decline in private landlord numbers threatens the supply of rental housing. Continued departures could exacerbate Ireland's housing shortage and deepen the rental crisis, making it even harder for tenants to find and retain affordable, well-maintained homes.

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