Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
182. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review will be carried out in six months’ time to measure the impact of the new rent rules, in order to have accurate information on the effect on housing both in County Laois, and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will have on renters in Kerry; his views on whether the increase will be affordable for the people of Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17079/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question No 182 and Question No 208 together.
The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 was signed into law by the President on 24 February 2026.
The policy measures, including modifications to rent controls, came into effect on 1 March 2026 in order to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and keep existing landlords in the market. The changes also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections.
For existing tenancies (i.e. those created on or before 28 February 2026), resetting of rents to market value will not be allowed. The restriction on annual rent increases will continue to apply to existing and new tenancies.
A tenant moving into a dwelling on or after 1 March 2026 will have certainty that while they remain in the tenancy their rent can only increase by inflation, up to a maximum of 2% in all tenancies other than new apartments or SSA for the following six years. Rent increases in tenancies that began before 1 March 2026 will be restricted to inflation, up to a maximum of 2%.
In order to provide greater security of tenure for tenants, the Act provides stronger tenant protections by significantly restricting “no fault evictions” for new tenancies created (i.e. first time tenancies between parties) on or after 1 March 2026. The existing provision for tenancies of unlimited duration will be strengthened by the incorporation of 6 year TMDs.
To safeguard from economic evictions to set higher rents, the provision to reset rents to market value are only allowed where previous tenants leave of their own volition, where previous tenants have breached their tenant obligations or where the dwelling is no longer suitable to the accommodation needs of the tenant household.
The RTB Rent Index report, published quarterly, is designed to measure developments in rental prices faced by those taking up new tenancies in the private rental sector and more recently, utilising Annual Registration data, existing tenancy rent price developments. This information is available on the RTB website.
My Department, the RTB and I will continue to keep the operation of the residential rental sector and the Residential Tenancies Acts under continuous review.
