Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
512. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to minimise any negative impacts of the new rent pressure zone changes on students, who due to scarcity of purpose built student accommodation, are left reliant on the private rental market. [32148/25]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos 512,517,518,519,520,521,527 and 544 together.
In line with a commitment in Housing for All, a review of the Private Rental Market was undertaken by my Department and published in July 2024. One of its recommendations was that a comprehensive examination of the current RPZ system should be undertaken.
The key focus of the review, which was undertaken by the Housing Agency, was to assess the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) since their introduction and consider their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, including the retention of landlords and new investment. It was also to consider whether RPZs should continue without change or be removed, modified or replaced.
The review involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the RTB. The Housing Agency submitted its report, ‘Review of Rent Pressure Zones and Potential Policy Options’ to my Department at the end of April and advised that its preferred recommendation was to modify the current RPZ rent controls.
Taking account of the Housing Agency report and its preferred recommendation, the Government has approved changes to rent regulation, which will be introduced nationally from 1 March 2026. The Government also approved stronger tenancy protections, which would apply to tenancies created from 1 March 2026. As new properties enter the rental market, and there is turnover of existing tenancies, the proportion of tenants who benefit from the protections will gradually increase over time.
In order to stimulate investment and keep existing landlords in the sector, rents for new tenancies may be reset to market value, unless a 'no fault eviction' occurs. Landlords will be able to reset the rent where a tenant voluntarily laves a tenancy. The Housing Agency Report indicates that the provision to reset rent between tenancies may see some rent inflation but that this will moderate as new supply comes on-stream. There will be no provision to reset rent within a tenancy. A tenant moving into a property will have certainty that their future rent can only increase by inflation, up to maximum of 2% in all tenancies, other than new build apartments.
I will continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science during the drafting of legislation on the tailored arrangements to apply to student specific accommodation. Increasing the availability of suitable, financially accessible student accommodation is a key policy priority for Government and will be addressed in the new Student Accommodation Strategy, being developed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for publication later this year. Affordability and equity will be at core of the Strategy.
