Ireland: Real Estate and Construction

Ireland's Building Control Regulations underwent significant expansion in May 2025, creating unexpected compliance challenges for developers and advisers. The certificate of compliance on completion has emerged as a critical bottleneck in transactions, while projects caught mid-stream face complex regime questions that can stall financing and occupation.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including the introduction of a simplified Building Energy Rating scale, the practical implications of force majeure clauses amid global conflicts, and key court decisions on construction contract amendments.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including a simplified Building Energy Rating scale...

Ireland's Building Control Regulations underwent significant expansion in May 2025, creating unexpected compliance challenges for developers and advisers. The certificate of compliance on completion has emerged as a critical bottleneck in transactions, while projects caught mid-stream face complex regime questions that can stall financing and occupation.

The Irish Government has secured approval for revisions to the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, legislation designed to accelerate district heating adoption across Ireland. Research indicates that waste heat from data centres and pharmaceutical plants could meet approximately 80% of Dublin's heat demand by 2050, potentially heating over 1 million homes through renewable and waste heat sources.

The Irish High Court has clarified the extent to which commercial property owners can use force to regain possession of their premises. In a case involving a warehouse sale following loan default and receivership, the court examined whether breaking glass and cutting through steel shutters constituted lawful recovery of property. The decision provides important guidance on the boundaries between legitimate property recovery and unlawful forcible entry.

Ireland moves forward with legislation to implement the EU Deforestation Regulation, introducing supply chain due diligence requirements for commodities like cattle, cocoa, coffee, and wood. The draft bill aims to ensure products placed on the Irish market are certified as deforestation-free, with enforcement beginning in December 2026.

On 23 June 2025, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA, formally introduced his renewed ‘Dilapidations Bill' before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025, in effect since 20 June 2025, introduces a temporary, nationwide rent control regime in response to ongoing pressures in the Irish housing market.

When a tenant operating at a loss seeks to close their premises despite contractual keep-open obligations, can a landlord successfully obtain an injunction to force continued trading?

The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 (the “Act”) was enacted at the end of February and the majority of the changes took effect from 1 March 2026.

Last week the Supreme Court published their judgment in the long running landlord and tenant dispute between RGRE Grafton Limited (the “Landlord”) and Bewley’s Café Grafton Street Limited (the “Tenant”) and Bewley’s Limited in relation to the ownership of six 1920s Harry Clarke stained glass works (the “Works”) in Bewley’s café, Grafton Street. The Supreme Court found that the Works were part and parcel of the premises and were therefore the property of the Landlord.