Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, where a house commences a lease before 1 March 2026 for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of extending the lease after the 12 months, the lease will fall under the new legislation after the 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2700/26]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (RTA) regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the RTA to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 provided for Tenancies of Unlimited Duration. All new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration after six consecutive months in occupation under the tenancy, without a valid notice of termination having been served during that period. This means that if a tenancy began on or after 11 June 2022, once a tenant has lived in the property continuously for 6 months and has not been served with a valid Notice of Termination within that period, the tenant can continue to reside under that tenancy for an unlimited duration. Such a tenancy may be terminated by the tenant or by the landlord, under the limited grounds for termination under the RTA.

Anyone residing under tenancy in the general rental market (i.e. not in student specific accommodation) for a fixed term longer than 6 months accrues security of tenure protection under Part 4 of the RTA - revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2004/act/27/revised/en/html#PART4. This means that if the fixed term is for a period longer than 6 months, the tenancy does not end on the expiry of the fixed term, as tenants acquire what are known as “Part 4” tenancy rights. Part 4 of the RTA does not apply to student specific accommodation given the nature of the letting agreements in that sector.

The forthcoming legal changes will only apply to a new tenancy (i.e. first time tenancy between parties) created on or after 1 March 2026. A detailed communications campaign by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, will continue to publicise the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026. Up-to-date information is available at: Government Reforms to the Rental Sector – Starting 1 March 2026.

The information provided in this reply is based on the policy measures approved by the Government on 10 June 2025 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.