IrelandI'm in a Rent Pressure Zone. What is the maximum rent increase?
In a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) in Ireland, the maximum allowable rent increase is 2% per year, calculated from the current rent or the last registered rent.
What the Law Says
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets the legal framework for rent controls in designated Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs). While section 19 of the Act originally dealt with rent reviews, the current RPZ rent cap is implemented through amendments — notably the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2016 and 2019 — which inserted provisions into Part 4 of the 2004 Act. However, the foundational authority remains the 2004 Act as amended.
Rent increases in RPZs are strictly limited to no more than 2% per annum. This cap applies to all new tenancies and renewals in designated RPZ areas.
The 2% increase is calculated on the current rent (or the most recently registered rent with the Residential Tenancies Board — RTB), and cannot be applied more frequently than once every 12 months.
A landlord must give the tenant at least 90 days’ written notice before increasing the rent, and the new rent must be registered with the RTB within one month of the increase taking effect.
RPZ designations are made by the Minister for Housing and are reviewed annually. As of 2024, RPZs cover many urban areas including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford — but not all parts of those counties.
Statutory TextResidential Tenancies Act 2004 s. 19:
— Residential Tenancies Act 2004, s. 19
What to Do
Check if your address is in a current Rent Pressure Zone using the RTB’s online RPZ map.
Ensure your current rent is registered with the RTB — unregistered rents may not be legally enforceable.
If your landlord proposes a rent increase, confirm it’s no more than 2% and that at least 12 months have passed since the last increase.
Review the 90-day written notice — it must include the amount of the increase, effective date, and RTB registration reference.
If the increase breaches the cap or process, contact the RTB for advice or to make a complaint.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.