Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will direct the Residential Tenancies Board to take a proactive approach to tackling the widespread illegal rent increase identified in the Q1 2024 rent index report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36996/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as quasi-judicial, independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2024 (RTA ) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Where a tenant is unsure as to the validity of a Notice of Rent Review served, he or she may refer the matter to the RTB for dispute resolution, with redress available to the tenant and may include a direction to pay a refund of any unlawful rent amount paid and an amount of damages of up to €20,000.

The RTB published the Q1 2024 Rent Index on 12 September 2024. The quarterly index tracks price developments in the Irish rental market over time and is based on RTB tenancy registration data that is independently analysed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The quarterly Rent Index provides the most accurate picture of how average rents are changing for new and existing tenancies in Ireland. The figures published compare the standardised average rent for all new and existing tenancies registered in Q1 2024 with a similar but not identical sample of all tenancies registered in the previous quarter and in Q1 2023. The RTB Rent Index cannot be used to examine compliance with RPZ legislation.

In tandem with the publication of the Q1 2024 Rent Index, the RTB shared preliminary findings from an additional ‘Individual Property Level Analysis’ commissioned to help the RTB understand the extent of rent increases in excess of RPZ limits, where they apply. It shows 74% of existing tenants nationally experienced annual rent increases of 2% or less between Q2 2022 and Q1 2024. Increases over 2% do not necessarily indicate non-compliance.

For those landlords who are not in compliance with RPZ requirements, the RTB has stated that, as a priority they will be communicating with these landlords in an effort to bring them into compliance. Furthermore, the RTB has stated that it will be using its full powers to investigate and sanction non-compliant landlords, where it is deliberate and ongoing.

Since July 2019, the RTB is empowered under Part 7A – Complaints, Investigations and Sanctions – of the Residential Tenancies Acts to investigate improper conduct by landlords and to impose sanctions, where appropriate. The RTB has the power to impose sanctions if improper conduct by a landlord is found to have occurred, ranging from a formal written caution and/or a fine of up to €15,000 and/or costs up to €15,000.