What Is a Rent Review in Ireland?
A rent review allows landlords to either increase or decrease monthly rent for tenants. The typical driver is the inflation rate, as landlords generally aim to keep rent increases aligned with inflation. Occasionally, landlords may reduce rent as a gesture toward long-term tenants.
What is the rent review process in Ireland? Ireland has a standardised rent review process. Landlords must provide:
- 90 days' notice
- A completed Residential Tenancy Board (RTB) Notice of Rent Review Form
Without following these steps, rent increases are invalid.
Irish rent has grown significantly since 2010, sitting at over 4 times the EU average price. Between 2010 and 2022, Irish rent prices increased by 76.7%.
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When Can My Landlord Raise My Rent?
Since the Rent Pressure Zone system was dismantled nationwide on 28 February 2026, the review timeline is now the same everywhere in Ireland:
- 12-Month Rent Certainty — Landlords must wait at least 12 months since the tenancy began, or since the last rent review, before reviewing rent again.
- 90 Days Notice Period — Landlords must still provide at least 90 days' notice using the RTB Notice of Rent Review Form.
Can landlords increase rent at any moment? No. Landlords must adhere to legal requirements. They cannot increase rent without providing 90 days' notice and cannot include anything in a lease agreement that contradicts legal obligations.
What Happened to Rent Pressure Zones?
Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were designated geographic areas with the highest rent prices and rapid growth, where stricter increase limits applied while other areas had no statutory cap. On 28 February 2026, the RPZ system was dismantled and its rent cap was extended to every private tenancy nationwide, so there is no longer a distinction between RPZ and non-RPZ areas for the purposes of the rent cap.
How Much Can a Landlord Increase Rent By in Ireland?
Since 1 March 2026, every private tenancy in Ireland is subject to the same nationwide cap: rent increases cannot exceed the general inflation rate (CPI) or 2%, whichever is lower. This replaces the old system where only Rent Pressure Zones were capped.
For new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026, landlords may reset rent to full market rate only when the tenancy begins, or after a complete 6-year Tenancy of Minimum Duration cycle ends - see our guide to the 2026 tenancy reforms for detail. Existing tenancies from before 1 March 2026 do not get a market rent reset and simply continue under the annual CPI/2% cap.
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Is There Help for Rent Rises?
Support exists for tenants experiencing unaffordable rent increases:
- The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) — Provides weekly payments to individuals and families unable to cover living expenses, covering food, energy, broadband and waste collection. Read our SWA guide.
- Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme — A nationwide government programme where local authorities provide social housing assistance. Local housing authorities pay rent directly to landlords monthly for HAP tenants. Read our HAP Scheme Guide.