Quick answer: From 1 March 2026, all private tenancies in Ireland are subject to national rent control — increases are capped at 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower, and can only happen once per year. The landlord must notify both you and the RTB on the same day.
National Rent Control from 1 March 2026
The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 replaced Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) with a single national rent control system covering all private tenancies in the State. Effective 1 March 2026, no landlord can increase rent above the national cap, regardless of location.
The Rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum annual increase | 2% or CPI inflation — whichever is lower |
| Frequency | Maximum once per 12-month period |
| Notice period | Landlord must serve 90 days' written notice to the tenant before the increase takes effect |
| RTB notification | Landlord must notify the RTB on the same day as notifying the tenant — failure to do so makes the notice invalid |
| New construction exception | Newly built apartments where construction commenced after 10 June 2025 may increase by CPI with no 2% cap |
CPI vs 2% — Which Applies?
The cap is the lower of the two: - If CPI inflation is 1.5%, rent can increase by 1.5% - If CPI inflation is 3%, rent can only increase by 2% - If CPI inflation is −0.5% (deflation), no rent increase is allowed
Notice Requirements
Your landlord must:
- Send written notice to you at least 90 days in advance of the increase taking effect, specifying the new rent and the date it takes effect
- Send notification to the RTB on the same day — this is a statutory requirement; failure makes the rent review notice invalid and unenforceable
Always ask the landlord to confirm they have notified the RTB. The RTB Rent Register shows registered rents and increase history for any property.
What Counts as the Base Rent?
The percentage increase applies to the currently registered rent — the rent you are currently paying, as registered with the RTB. Keep a copy of what your rent was registered at to check any proposed increase is within the legal cap.
New Tenancies — When Rent Can Reset to Market Level
The 2%-or-CPI cap governs increases within an existing ongoing tenancy — it does not directly control the starting rent when a new tenancy begins with a new tenant.
Critical restriction — no-fault evictions: If a landlord ends a tenancy without fault on the tenant's part (e.g. for sale, own use, or renovation), the landlord is barred from resetting to market rent for the next tenancy at that property. The new tenancy must start at the same registered rent as the tenancy that was ended.
A landlord may set a new market-level starting rent only in specific circumstances, including where: - The previous tenant left voluntarily, or the tenancy ended because the tenant breached their obligations (e.g. non-payment of rent, anti-social behaviour) - The property no longer suited the tenant's accommodation needs - It is the property's first-ever tenancy - The property was out of the rental market for at least two years (one year if it is a protected structure) - The property was substantially changed (e.g. significant structural renovation) and the previous tenant was offered it back - A 6-year Tenancy of Minimum Duration cycle ends — for tenancies created from 1 March 2026, a landlord may re-set to market rent once every 6 years
Disputing an Illegal Rent Increase
If your landlord proposes an increase above the legal cap, or fails to follow the proper process:
- Respond in writing — note the increase is above the legal cap and request compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act
- Contact Threshold — free tenant advice at threshold.ie if you need help
- Refer to the RTB — file a dispute with the RTB's dispute resolution service. This is free to use and decisions are legally binding. Time limits apply — act promptly.
Do not agree to or pay an illegal rent increase, even under pressure.
The RTB Rent Register
The RTB maintains a publicly searchable Rent Register showing: - The registered rent for any tenancy in the country - The date of the most recent registration - Historical rent data for the property
You can check this at rtb.ie/rent-register to verify your landlord's previous registered rent and confirm the proposed increase is within the legal cap.
Key Points
- Rent can only increase once every 12 months.
- The cap is 2% or CPI — whichever is lower.
- The landlord must notify both you and the RTB on the same day. A notice without simultaneous RTB notification is legally invalid.
- There is no exemption — all private tenancies are covered, regardless of location or property type (except the new construction exception).
- Complaining to the RTB does not end your tenancy — the RTB process is independent of the landlord.
Common Questions
Q: My rent is below market rate — can my landlord raise it to market level? No — the national rent control rules cap increases at 2% or CPI regardless of what the market rate is. If your current rent is below market, that does not permit a larger increase. The cap applies to the existing registered rent, not the market rate.
Q: What were Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs)? RPZs were designated areas of high rental demand where rent increases were capped. They applied from 2016 until 1 March 2026, when the RPZ system was replaced by the new national rent control system that covers the entire country, not just designated zones.
Q: Does the rent cap apply to new tenancies as well as renewals? The cap on increases only applies to existing ongoing tenancies — it governs how much a landlord can raise rent during a tenancy. However, if a landlord ends the previous tenancy without fault on the tenant's part (a no-fault eviction such as for sale, own use, or renovation), the landlord is barred from resetting to market rent — the next tenancy must start at the same rent. A landlord may only set a new market-level starting rent where the previous tenancy ended through tenant choice, tenant breach, or certain property-related grounds (see above).
Sources
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