Over 40,000 more tenancies now benefit from rent controls as Rent Pressure Zones expanded nationwide
- Published on: 20 June 2025
- Last updated on: 23 June 2025
From today, Friday 20 June 2025, all renters, everywhere in Ireland, will enjoy the same protection, security and certainty following the enactment of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025, meaning that rent increase restrictions will apply to all tenancies nationally.
Previously, approximately 83% of tenancies were located in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) with the remaining 17% (40,963) of tenancies outside RPZ areas.
In RPZs, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation to a maximum of 2% for existing tenancies.
The extension of current Pressure Zones to a nationwide rent control system was one of the recommendations in the Review of Rent Pressure Zones Report. It is one of a suite of reforms to the rental sector announced last week by the government.
Marking the significant passing of legislation, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said:
"Protecting renters is essential in the moves we make now towards increased supply of housing.
“I have moved swiftly to implement national rent controls, expanding the Rent Pressure Zone framework across the entire country, in advance of sweeping changes to our rental system, and a strengthing of rental rights, from March 2026.
“Critically, this new law immediately provides all renters with the restrictions on rent increases currently found as part of rent pressure zones, preventing increases to their rents of more than 2% or inflation, whichever is lower.
“The measures we are introducing strike a fair balance, and one that provides much needed certainty for everyone.
“We have to strike a balance between landlords, renters, and the urgent need to invigorate more supply of homes, including places to rent as well as places to buy.”
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed this week provided for:
- the deeming of non RPZs to be RPZs from the day after enactment until 28 February 2026; and
- a two-month extension, until 28 February 2026, to the operation of existing Rent Pressure Zones