The Government is set to approve sweeping changes to Ireland’s rental laws, including extending Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country. The proposals, agreed by coalition leaders and senior ministers on Monday night, are expected to be brought before Cabinet today.
The reforms aim to strengthen tenant protections and introduce new restrictions on how and when landlords can increase rents. A key change will redefine “large landlords” as those owning four or more rental properties, a move intended to place tighter regulations on institutional investors and major landlords.
Under the new rules, landlords will reportedly only be allowed to raise the rent if a tenant voluntarily vacates the property. This closes off a loophole that housing advocates warned was driving evictions, where some landlords were ending tenancies to reset rents at higher market rates.
Sources familiar with the package say the changes mark a clear shift toward supporting tenants, with fewer concessions for landlords than some had anticipated.
The proposals also include stronger protections against “no-fault” evictions for tenants renting from large landlords. However, smaller landlords - defined as those with three or fewer properties - will still be permitted to carry out such evictions under current rules.
While full details are expected to be announced after Cabinet approval, early reports suggest the measures are aimed at curbing rising rents and reducing evictions, rather than incentivising further investment by landlords.
The move follows growing pressure from housing campaigners and opposition parties for urgent action to tackle the ongoing rental crisis.
