Living and renting in Ireland: the new rules of 2026

The Irish rental market is the tightest in the EU, and since 1 March 2026 also one of the most regulated — with rules so new that almost everything you read about them is out of date. This article sets out the market and the new rules of the game.

The market, honestly

A new tenancy costs on average € 1,755 per month nationwide; sitting tenants pay on average € 1,503 — and that gap is itself the story: as a newcomer you by definition step in at the expensive end. Dublin sits well above € 2,100 for new tenancies. Supply is thin, viewings draw queues, and landlords ask for references from employer and previous landlord — bring them from the Netherlands, in English. Count on weeks to months of searching and budget for the expensive bridging period.

The new rules since 1 March 2026

The Rent Pressure Zones have been abolished — every guide that still mentions them is out of date. In their place, nationwide:

• Rent increases capped at inflation, with a ceiling of 2% per year — everywhere, not just in designated zones. New builds (with a commencement notice from 10 June 2025) fall outside the cap.
• Six-year tenancies: every new contract is a "tenancy of minimum duration" of six years.
• Large landlords (four or more homes, or companies) can no longer terminate for sale, own use, renovation or change of use.
• The reset: if you leave voluntarily, the landlord may reset the rent to market level — with justification to tenant and RTB. Moving within Ireland is therefore more expensive than staying; so choose your first home as if you'll stay six years.

The RTB: your instrument of control

Every landlord must register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board within a month (€ 40 per year, his duty) — and there's a public register in which you can look up any address, since March 2026 including the BER energy rating. Check before signing whether the home is registered; a landlord who avoids that avoids the rest of the law too.

Deposit and advance payment: legally limited

Since 2021 the deposit and the advance payment are each limited to one month's rent. Whoever asks for "six months in advance" — and in this market landlords try it — is asking for something that isn't allowed. Never pay cash without a receipt, and use the RTB register as the referee when in doubt.

The small print: energy and the rating

Ireland has the most expensive household electricity in the EU, and many rental homes are poorly insulated. Look at the BER rating in the register for every home, ask about the form of heating (storage heaters are the expensive classic) and include the energy costs in the comparison between two rents. A home that rents for € 100 less and heats for € 150 more is no bargain.