Dublin: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has warned landlords to ensure full compliance with revised rental legislation coming into effect on March 1. The regulator stressed that the updated law clearly outlines when rents may be reviewed or reset and confirmed that strict enforcement action will be taken in cases of non-compliance.
Key Changes Under the New Law
The revised tenancy rules will primarily apply to new tenancy agreements signed from Sunday, March 1. Existing tenants will not see significant changes, and the RTB confirmed that current contracts remain legally binding under their original terms.
Under the legislation:
- The entire country is now designated as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ).
- Annual rent increases are capped at 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
- New tenancy agreements will have a six-year term.
- Evictions without valid legal grounds are prohibited, and proper notice must be provided.
In certain limited circumstances, landlords may reset rents to market rates for new tenants after March 1.
Rent Reviews and Reset Procedures
RTB Director Rosemary Steen said landlords must follow strict procedures when reviewing rents. A rent review notice must be submitted to the RTB before being issued to the tenant and must be provided at least 90 days before the new rent takes effect.
For market rent resets, landlords must supply three comparable rent examples sourced from the RTB Rent Register. The register contains details of rents paid by registered tenancies and will be updated daily. Rent resets to market rates may only occur after March 1 and at the end of a six-year tenancy term.
Steen clarified that tenants will not be able to rely on rents in neighbouring properties to seek adjustments to existing rental agreements.
Enforcement and Digital Monitoring
The RTB confirmed that no additional enforcement officers have been recruited specifically for the implementation of the new law, though discussions are ongoing with the Department of Housing regarding staffing resources.
Going forward, rent reviews, resets and terminations will be processed digitally, allowing the RTB to monitor compliance more effectively and regulate rental trends using real-time registration data.
Short-Term Rent Increases Possible
In a related development, Steen acknowledged that rents could rise in the short term as new tenancies move to market rates following the end of existing agreements. She noted that this is the first time comprehensive market rent data from the Rent Register will inform such calculations.
However, she rejected claims that the reforms would inevitably trigger excessive rent hikes, describing the legislation as “very positive” and highlighting that it offers significant protections for tenants while providing greater certainty for landlords.
“We must be careful not to prejudge how the market will respond,” Steen said, adding that the practical impact of the reforms will become clearer over time.
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