Government backs bill on rent controls
The Government has approved the publication of a bill that would introduce a national system of rent controls that would apply to new tenancies from 1 March.
The Department of Housing said that the bill’s measures aimed to attract new investment to increase the supply of rental properties, while also increasing security of tenure for renters.
Under the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, changes in rents will be linked to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rather than the current linkage to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
2% cap
There will be a cap of 2% a year to protect tenants in times of high inflation. The cap will not apply, however, to rents in new apartments – a move that the department says is aimed at boosting investment in the construction of new apartments.
For existing tenancies (in place on 28 February 2026), rent increases will be capped at the rate of inflation according to CPI or 2%, whichever is lower.
Minister for Housing James Browne said that the proposals would provide certainty and clarity and would encourage investment.
“Some people may benefit from the current system and, naturally, be resistant to change but for most people the current system is simply not working – for renters or for potential new landlords. Doing nothing is simply not an option.” he stated.
Rolling six-year tenancies
Among the measures aimed at protecting tenants is the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration (TMD), also for new tenancies created from 1 March.
These will be rolling six-year tenancies, under which landlords will be able to end the tenancy only in specific situations, such as:
- The tenant is not meeting their obligations, and
- The property no longer suits the tenant’s needs.
Smaller landlords (with three or fewer tenancies) will also be allowed to terminate a TMD during its term in the following cases:
- Financial or other hardship requiring sale of the property, and
- The landlord or a close family member needs to live in the property.
At the end of a TMD, smaller landlords will be able to end a tenancy using existing legal grounds, including:
- Selling the property,
- Occupation by landlord or family,
- Substantial refurbishment/renovation, and
- Changing the use of the property.
Larger landlords will not be allowed to end tenancies for sale, substantial refurbishment/renovation, occupation, or change of use.
‘Robust’ protections
Minister Browne said that the bill would provide greater tenancy for tenants by significantly restricting ‘no-fault evictions.
“Tenants in Ireland will soon have the most robust set of protections they have ever had,” he said.
The bill would also allow all landlords can reset to market rent at the end of each TMD, if the rent has fallen below the market rate.
In other circumstances, resetting rents to market rates will allowed only where a tenant leaves of their own volition, where a tenant has breached their tenant obligations, or where the dwelling is no longer suitable to the accommodation needs of the tenant household.
From 1 March 2029, student-specific accommodation (SSA) providers will be allowed to reset a rent to market rent and will be allowed to do so again after each subsequent three-year period.