Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps her Department is taking to ensure that the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, due to take effect in March 2026, achieve a fair balance between landlord and tenant rights; and if she will publish any equality or economic impact assessment carried out prior to their introduction. [54459/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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229. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 will include statutory service-level targets for the Residential Tenancies Board in resolving rent arrears and anti-social behaviour cases; and the targets and resources allocated to achieve them. [54460/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether his Department will introduce standardised evidence templates and procedural guidance for both landlords and tenants in termination cases under the March 2026 legislative changes, to minimise procedural errors and ensure fair and efficient dispute resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 229 and 230 together.

On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures including modifications to rent controls to come into effect on 1 March 2026 in order to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and keep existing landlords in the market. The changes agreed will also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market across the country. Further information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/government-to-introduce-major-reforms-to-the-rental-sector/.

The modifications to rent controls have been informed by the findings of the Housing Agency Review of Rent Pressure Zones and Potential Policy Options and its preferred recommendation to modify the existing operation of the current RPZ rent controls. The report can be accessed here: www.housingagency.ie/publications/review-rent-pressure-zones-report.

Legislation is being prepared, informed by the Programme for Government commitment below, and will be published later this year to give effect to these policy measures. It is not practice to publish Memoranda for Government or underpinning policy and legal advices.

The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future commits to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and establishing statutory timelines for dealing with complaints.

The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (the RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The RTB was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025, to operate a national tenancy registration system, to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and to provide information to tenants and landlords. My Department will support the RTB in the provision of guidance to the sector, as necessary, and assist in securing adequate resources in the context of the impending legal changes from March 2026. In 2026, the Exchequer funding allocation for the RTB will be significantly increased by over 70% to €22.8m.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has assessed the impact of private landlord exits on overall rental supply and rent levels nationally; if such assessments are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54478/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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233. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has reviewed the cumulative effect of rent controls, registration costs and regulatory compliance requirements on the viability of small-scale landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54480/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 233 together.

The Government remains focused on growing the supply of much-needed rental accommodation by keeping existing landlords in the market and attracting new landlords, while ensuring strong and balanced tenancy protections for both tenants and landlords.

The RTB's Profile of the Register shows that registered private tenancies and landlords increased year-on-year since its introduction in Q2 2023, but remained relatively static from Q1 2025.

• 240,798 registered private tenancies, an increase of 3.2% annually and an increase of 0.08% from Q1 2025.
• 104,072 private landlords, an increase of 0.24% annually (down 398 landlords or 0.38% from Q1 2025).

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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232. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans to introduce any targeted measures or supports aimed at retaining small private landlords in the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54479/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains focused on growing the supply of much-needed rental accommodation by keeping existing landlords in the market and attracting new landlords, while ensuring strong and balanced tenancy protections for both tenants and landlords.

In order to boost the supply of homes available for rent, the Government approved modifications to rent controls, to come into effect on 1 March 2026. The changes will provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market.

In order to stimulate investment and keep existing landlords in the sector, rents for new tenancies may be reset to market value, unless the previous tenant has received a Notice of Termination, except where such a notice was issued because the tenant did not fulfil their obligations or if the property was no longer suitable. Landlords will be able to reset the rent where a tenant voluntarily laves a tenancy.

After 1 March 2026, annual rent increases in tenancies will be capped at the level of inflation (CPI) up to a maximum of 2%. For new build apartments, annual rent increases will be capped at the level of inflation (CPI). The RTB RPZ calculator () assists landlords to comply with the rent controls until 28 February 2026 and will be modified to assist with the implementation of the new rent control from 1 March 2026.

The policy proposals for stronger tenancy protections will apply to new tenancies created from 1 March 2026, which will significantly enhance the current provision of tenancies of unlimited duration with the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration (TMD), involving rolling 6-year tenancies by a smaller landlord (with three or fewer tenancies) with a new tenant.

In limited circumstances during a 6-year TMD, a smaller landlord will be allowed to end a tenancy. This would include where the landlord requires the property for a family member (spouse/civil partner/parent/child) or where the landlord is experiencing hardship and requires vacant possession. A smaller landlord will also be allowed to terminate a tenancy using the limited grounds under section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (RTA) at the end of each 6-year period while the tenancy continues to exist.

All landlords will retain the right to terminate a tenancy where there is a breach of tenant obligations or where the dwelling is no longer suitable to the accommodation needs of the tenant household.

For existing tenancies (i.e. those in place on 28 February 2026), landlords will continue to have the right to terminate a tenancy in line with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 as they apply on 28 February 2026.

Legislation to give effect to these policy proposals is being prepared and will be published later this year.