The Government announced changes to rent controls and increased tenant protections in the private rented sector on 10 June 2025.
Read more about the announcement in our recent briefing: Government Announces Measures on PRS Rent Reform – Arthur Cox LLP.
The main changes (based on the Government press release) and what we hope to see clarified in the draft legislation is set out below.
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* Has the Government implemented any of the changes?
- Yes. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 was signed into law on 19 June 2025 extending RPZs to the entire country and extending current RPZs to 28 February 2026.
- This means that the current rules capping rent setting and rent increases at the lower of 2% or inflation (as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices/HICP) apply to all areas from 20 June 2025 to 28 February 2026.
Will the extension of RPZs to the entire country impact institutional PRS landlords?
- No. Most institutional PRS landlords are already operating in RPZs, which cover approx. 80% of the country, so this change is not hugely significant for them.
- Smaller landlords in areas not currently subject to RPZs will be impacted more.
What about student accommodation?
- The Government press release did not mention student accommodation.
- It was reported and confirmed by the Ministers for Housing and Higher Education on 16 June 2025 that exemptions to the new rules are being considered for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
- The exemption may mean that PBSA will continue to be subject to the current rules whereby rent setting and rent increases are capped at the lower of 2% or inflation – this will need to be clarified in the draft legislation.
When will the draft legislation be published?
- Heads of the draft legislation will be published before the Dáil summer recess in mid-July.
- It may be the autumn before the detailed legislation is published.
We are monitoring developments closely and will publish further briefings as more information becomes available.
This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.
