Are all areas in Ireland now Rent Pressure Zones?

Yes. Since December 2021, RPZ rules apply nationwide across all 26 counties. The 2% cap on annual rent increases applies everywhere, not just Dublin and urban areas as was originally the case when RPZs were introduced in 2016.

How much can my landlord increase rent in an RPZ?

Maximum 2% per year (or the HICP inflation rate if lower). For example, if your current rent is \u20ac1,500 and it has been 12 months since the last review, the maximum new rent is \u20ac1,530.

How often can rent be reviewed in Ireland?

Landlords can only review rent once every 12 months. They must give at least 90 days written notice before the increase takes effect. The notice must include the new rent amount and a completed RTB rent review form.

What if my landlord exceeds the RPZ cap?

You can dispute the increase through the RTB\u2019s free Dispute Resolution Service within 28 days of receiving the notice. The RTB can order the landlord to refund any overpayment.

Do RPZ rules apply to new builds?

Properties first let after February 1, 2020 are exempt from RPZ rules for the first 2 years of the first tenancy. After that, the 2% cap applies.

Can a landlord increase rent after major renovation?

Yes, if the renovation cost exceeds \u20ac20,000, was notified to the RTB before work began, and the property was vacant during works. The new rent must still be within market rates and the landlord must provide RTB with renovation details.

Where can I check if a rent increase is valid?

Use the RTB\u2019s rent pressure zone calculator at rtb.ie, or contact the RTB directly at 0818 303 037. Threshold, the housing charity, also offers free legal advice for tenants facing disputes.

Rent Pressure Zone Checker Ireland 2026

Check if your area is a Rent Pressure Zone and calculate the maximum allowed rent increase under Irish RPZ rules. All inputs stay in your browser — free and private.

Property Location

County Select your county or Dublin postal district

Local Electoral Area (optional) RPZ designation is by LEA — all of Ireland is currently an RPZ

Current Tenancy

Current Monthly Rent (€) Your current monthly rent before any proposed increase

Tenancy Start Date When your current tenancy began

Last Rent Review Date Date of the most recent rent review or tenancy start if never reviewed

Proposed New Monthly Rent (€) The new rent amount your landlord is proposing

Exemptions (optional)

Property Type Certain property types may be exempt from RPZ caps

First Let Date (new builds only) Only relevant if property is a new build — exempt for first 2 years

Maximum Allowed Rent

€0

Based on 2% annual cap

Proposed New Rent

€0

Your landlord's proposed amount

Maximum Increase Allowed

€0

Per month at current review

Difference from Cap

€0

Proposed vs maximum allowed

Calculation Breakdown

Current monthly rent

Time since last review

Annual cap rate

Total allowed increase

Maximum new rent

Proposed new rent

Verdict

Exemption Status

Your Rights as a Tenant

You can dispute the increase through the RTB's free Dispute Resolution Service within 28 days of receiving the notice.
Contact the RTB at 0818 303 037 or visit rtb.ie for free dispute resolution.
Your landlord must give 90 days' written notice before any rent increase takes effect.
The RTB can order the landlord to refund any overpayment and revert to the correct rent.
Threshold (housing charity) offers free legal advice for tenants facing disputes at threshold.ie.

Note: This tool provides estimates based on published RPZ rules under the Residential Tenancies Acts. The actual maximum rent depends on HICP rates and your specific tenancy. For definitive advice, contact the RTB at rtb.ie or see citizensinformation.ie. Last updated: May 2026.

What Is a Rent Pressure Zone?

A Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) is a designated area in Ireland where annual rent increases are capped to protect tenants from rapid rent inflation. Originally introduced in 2016 under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, RPZs initially applied only to areas with the highest rent increases, primarily Dublin and Cork city. Since December 2021, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act extended RPZ designation to cover all of Ireland nationwide. This means every county, city, and Local Electoral Area now falls under RPZ rent cap rules. Under RPZ rules, landlords can only increase rent by the lower of 2% per year or the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) inflation rate, as confirmed by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

How the 2% Rent Cap Works

In a Rent Pressure Zone, the maximum permitted rent increase is the lower of 2% per annum or the prevailing HICP rate. The calculation is applied from the date of the last rent review (or from the tenancy start date if rent has never been reviewed). Landlords must wait at least 12 months between rent reviews and must provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice before any increase takes effect. The notice must be in a prescribed format, include the new rent amount, and reference the RPZ calculator on the RTB website. If the HICP rate is below 2%, the HICP rate applies instead. For 2025-2026, Ireland's HICP rate has hovered around 2.0-2.5%, making the effective cap 2% per year in most cases. Source: citizensinformation.ie, updated per the Residential Tenancies Acts as amended.

Exemptions from RPZ Rent Caps

Certain properties are exempt from the RPZ rent cap under the Residential Tenancies Acts. New-build properties first let after 1 February 2020 are exempt from RPZ rules for the first two years of their first tenancy. Substantially refurbished properties where renovation costs exceeded €20,000 may be exempt, provided the landlord notified the RTB before work began and the property was vacant during renovations. Properties that were untenanted for two or more years before a new letting may also be exempt. Short-term tourist lettings and certain licensed accommodation are outside the scope of RPZ rules entirely. Even where an exemption applies, the rent set must still reflect the prevailing market rate. The RTB maintains a register of exemptions at rtb.ie.

What to Do if Your Rent Increase Exceeds the Cap

If your landlord proposes a rent increase that exceeds the RPZ cap, you have the right to dispute the increase through the RTB's free Dispute Resolution Service. You must submit your dispute within 28 days of receiving the rent review notice. The RTB offers both mediation and adjudication at no cost to the tenant. If the increase is found to be invalid, the RTB can order the landlord to revert to the correct rent and refund any overpayment. Landlords who fail to comply with RPZ rules may face penalties. Threshold, Ireland's national housing charity, provides free legal advice and advocacy for tenants at threshold.ie. For full guidance, see the RTB's rent review guidelines at rtb.ie. Last updated: May 2026.

What Changed Under the March 2026 RPZ Reforms?

From 1 March 2026, the old system of designating specific Rent Pressure Zones was repealed and replaced by a new national rent-control framework under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025. Rent control now applies to every private tenancy in Ireland, not just designated areas, but the core rule is unchanged: rent can rise once a year by the lower of 2% or CPI inflation. The main differences for tenants are:

Six-year tenancies: New tenancies created from 1 March 2026 run as a six-year Tenancy of Minimum Duration, giving tenants longer security of tenure.
Small vs large landlords: Landlords with 1-3 tenancies are "small"; those with 4 or more (or any company) are "large", and each has different grounds for ending a tenancy.
Market-rent reset: Rent can only be reset to market value at the end of a six-year cycle or where the previous tenant left by choice — never after a landlord's no-fault termination.
New apartments: Apartments where construction commenced from 10 June 2025 follow inflation only, with no 2% cap.

These reforms are recent — always confirm the current rules and your specific situation with the Residential Tenancies Board (rtb.ie) before acting.