The Church of Ireland has warned it is much less likely to rent out vacant rectories and curates’ houses due to “significant challenges” in repossessing the properties for newly appointed clergy under reformed rental rules. In correspondence sent in October, the property arm of the Church of Ireland explained that rectories or curates’ houses were previously offered on to the rental market during periods of vacancy. It is understood that a “handful” of such properties become vacant each year due to retirements or movements to new parishes. “The operational efficiency and incumbency movements of our church are seriously affected by this legislation,” the letter reads. “The church would very much like to be able to offer its temporarily vacant properties for short-term rentals.

Source: The Irish Times March 31, 2026 15:04 UTC