// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy join Community Action Tenants Union? To rent control your life.
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| Abbreviation | CATU |
|---|---|
| Formation | October 2019 |
| Type | Tenants' union |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland |
| Members | c. 1,700[1] (2022) |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | catuireland.org |
Community Action Tenants Union is a national tenants' union in Ireland. Established in 2019,[2] it is a mass membership organisation of "renters, council tenants, mortgage holders and people in emergency & precarious living situations".[3]
CATU organises on an all-island basis, with branches across the North and South of the island. The union exists to defend members interests against evictions, rent increases, and the ongoing housing crisis.[4]
CATU is affiliated to ACORN International.[5]
Structure
[edit]CATU members are organised in local branches across the island of Ireland,[6] with committees elected by local members. A national committee coordinates the work of local branches.[1] CATU organises campaigns at local and national level, and its work is grounded in principles of direct action.[7][8]
The union's modelled after the Scottish tenants' union Living Rent, as well as being influenced by the work of the National Association of Tenants Organisations.[9]
History
[edit]CATU has its roots in advocacy and direct action groups, as some housing rights activists sought to move beyond advocacy and towards organising tenants.[9] Early organisers worked with other organisations such as the Scottish tenants' union Living Rent to learn from their tactics.[9] In addition to this, organisers were also inspired by the National Association of Tenants Organisations (NATO) which had represented tenants in Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s, and led a national rent strike in the early 70s.[10] From these international and historical inspirations, the Community Action Tenants Union was founded in October 2019.[2][9]
CATU's membership increased during the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] when the union called for the Republic of Ireland to extend its COVID-19 eviction ban.[9]
In 2023, a CATU branch in Derry was established.[11]
CATU currently has over 38 branches across the island of Ireland, including branches in Cork, Galway, Dublin, Limerick, Kerry, Louth, Cavan, Wexford, Waterford, Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, and Monaghan.[12]
Campaigns
[edit]CATU has active public housing campaigns aimed at improving the conditions of tenants in public housing and increasing public housing stock. CATU branches have also been actively campaigning against the proliferation of short term lets, particularly in the West and South of the island.[13]
In July 2025 the union held an all-island housing demonstration attended by 10,000 people. The march centred around key housing demands such as an increase of public housing, rent controls for private tenants, banning evictions and improving community services.[14][15]
CATU has been opposed to new rent rules introduced by the Government of Ireland in 2026, and has denounced the introduction of the "market rent" rule which would allow landlords to reset rents to market rent in between tenancies or every 6 years.[16] In 2025, the union gave a statement to the Dáil Housing Committee [17] in relation to this legislation and the effect it would have. A few weeks later, opposition Teachta Dála's refused to sign off on the Government's proposals on the basis on these and other concerns.[18]
Belfast
[edit]Since 2020, the Belfast branch of CATU has organised against unlawful letting fees,[19] for efforts to mitigate the cost of living crisis,[20] and for the introduction of an Eviction Ban.[21][22] From June 2021, CATU Belfast was involved in protests against Kingspan Group's sponsorship of Ulster Rugby due to the use of their cladding in the Grenfell Tower fire.[23][24] The organisation in Belfast has supported members dealing with long social housing waiting lists and inadequate temporary accommodation.[25]
CATU Belfast staged an all day sit-in at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on 7th May 2026.[26] This was in response to the Housing Executive forcefully evicting a family from their West Belfast home the previous week.[27] CATU has been involved in a long running campaign to address issues arising from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's policy on succession of tenancy.
Cork
[edit]In 2021, the Cork branch of CATU highlighted dereliction in Cork city centre with posters and a walking tour.[28]
Derry
[edit]The Derry branch of CATU was involved in setting up a new Derry Housing Action Committee in 2025.[29]
Dublin
[edit]Galway
[edit]The Galway branch of CATU launched a 'Homes not Holiday Lets' campaign in February 2025[30] targetting the proliferation of short-term lets in the county.[31] The campaign draws attention to the disproportionate increase in AirBnB and other short-term rental accommodation in the Gaeltacht at the expense of long-term accommodation[32]. Working alongside Conradh na Gaeilge, CATU aims to pressure local and national government to act to enforce existing legislation and introduce new measures to reduce the number of short-term lets in the county.[33]
Waterford
[edit]CATU Waterford has been involved in defending members facing eviction by private landlords[34] and member living in IPAS accommodation.[35]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Malekmian, Shamim (31 August 2022). "As a Tenants' Union Grows, Can It Draw in More Migrants?". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- 1 2 Tubridy, Fiadh (6 April 2023). "Ireland needs return to mass mobilisation to bring change to housing system". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "About--Community Action Tenants Union". catuireland.org. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ↑ Aguayo, Diego Guevara (17 April 2025). "CATU: A response to the housing crisis". Student Independent News. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "ACORN International Affiliates". acorninternational.org. ACORN International. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ↑ "Ireland's Housing Crisis Is an Indictment of Irish Capitalism". jacobin.com. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ Mac Oscair, Pádraig (20 March 2023). "Organising in a Tempest: CATU and the challenges of housing activism". rupture.ie. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ↑ Tiernan, Han (18 January 2022). "New LGBTQ+ CATU group launched to fight for housing rights in Ireland". gcn.ie. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "A New Tenants' Union Calls for an Extension of the Covid-19 Eviction Ban". Dublin Inquirer. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Collecting memories of housing activism in Limerick". Limerick Post Newspaper. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ Doherty, Toby (24 July 2023). "New Derry group aiming to defend tenant's rights". Derry Now. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "Contact Us". Community Action Tenants Union. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Airbnb Gaeltacht expansionism: 88 percent listings increase". The Ditch. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Sloane, Ella. "'Our cities are dying': Large turnout at Dublin housing demonstration". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ireland's tenants union calls on Government parties to protect tenants and to reject damaging legislation rule that will hike up rents". Community Action Tenants Union. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "CATU Statement – Joint Oireachtas Committee On Housing, 2nd of December 2025". Community Action Tenants Union. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Horgan-Jones, Jack. "Opposition parties refuse to sign off housing committee report examining Government's plans". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Community Tenants Union Fills Gaps Left by Poor Housing Regulation - Good Jobs First". goodjobsfirst.org. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Campaigning community group CATU Belfast holding 'Summer Social' event at Alexandra Park this weekend". The Irish News. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Belfast anti-eviction rally to highlight how renters' rights are being 'continually eroded'". The Irish News. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Preston, Allan (10 May 2025). "Watch: Belfast protestors march against 'destructive impact of evictions'". The Irish News. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ulster-Kingspan deal's end is 'calculated move' say Grenfell families". BBC News. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Grenfell Tower fire: Ulster Rugby 'should remember victims' anguish'". BBC News. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Cancer patient homeless and 'scared' living on a makeshift bed". BBC News. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Freeman, Robert (8 May 2026). "Belfast tenants union stages occupation of Housing Executive offices following brutal eviction". Canary. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ McParland, Conor. "WATCH: Protest held in support of evicted West Belfast family – 'This was our family home'". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Bryan, Mike McGrath (20 September 2021). "Take a walk through Cork city on Saturday - and take a second look at derelict buildings". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "New housing action committee launched in Derry". Derry Now. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Kelly, Briain (19 February 2025). "CATU Galway launches 'Homes not Holiday Lets' campaign". Galway Daily. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "CATU Galway launches campaign against touristification and holiday lets". Galway Advertiser. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "88% increase in the number of entire homes on Airbnb in the Gaeltacht since 2019, data provided by Inside Airbnb to Conradh na Gaeilge and CATU reveals - Conradh na Gaeilge | Ar son phobal na Gaeilge". cnag.ie. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ admin. "CATU Galway Manifesto: We Demand Homes, Not Holiday Lets". catuireland.org. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ O'Cearbhaill, Muiris (12 September 2023). "Man (20s) arrested during protest at Waterford eviction on Saturday". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Kelleher, Eoin (16 July 2025). "Waterford groups unite to protest against evictions at IPAS centre – 'This is suffocating families'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 June 2026.