The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will implement the recommendations of a Housing Agency review published last summer.

A national rent control linked to inflation using the consumer price index (CPI) for Ireland — rather than the linkage to the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) under the current rent pressure zone (RPZ) system — will apply to all tenancies nationally.

To protect tenants in times of high inflation, a cap of two per cent per annum pro rata will apply. However, to support investment in the construction of new apartments, rent increases for new apartments will be linked to CPI only.

Renters with tenancies beginning after 1 March 2026 will benefit from new protections, including the abolition of no-fault evictions by larger landlords.

Housing, local government and heritage minister James Browne said: “We are in a housing crisis and this is a critical measure to change course and increase supply.

“The current system is simply not serving those who need a viable and working rental sector, including people living at home in childhood bedrooms because of a lack of supply or suitable rental accommodation.

“We need reform — and these reforms embed greater certainty for renters and a sector more attractive to grow the amount of rental homes we need.

“I am acting decisively to shield tenants from higher market rents. That is why we are introducing for the very first time in the State a national system of rent control.

“This bill will provide greater tenancy for tenants by significantly restricting no-fault evictions. These changes will further enhance the current provision of tenancies of unlimited duration with the introduction of rolling tenancies of a minimum duration of six-years.

“Tenants in Ireland will soon have the most robust set of protections they have ever had and I was absolutely determined to make that the heart of the rental changes.

“Tenants entering into a tenancy with larger landlords (i.e. landlords with four or more tenancies and companies), from 1 March 2026, will no longer face no-fault evictions.

“Tenants entering into a tenancy with smaller landlords (i.e. landlord with three or fewer tenancies) will also benefit from substantially improved tenancy protections.”