Rent Pressure Zone Statistics Ireland 2026
Where rent increases are capped, how the rules work, and what the data says about effectiveness — sourced from the RTB, 2016–2025.
53
Designated rent pressure zones in Ireland
Last updated: 31 December 2025·Source: RTB Residential Tenancies Board
RPZ areas
53
Designated nationally
Max annual increase
2%
HICP-linked cap
Tenancies in RPZs
180,000
Households protected
Market coverage
55%
Of all rental market
Which Areas Are Rent Pressure Zones?
Green counties contain at least one designated RPZ area. Hover any county to see designation status and date.
Ireland Rent Pressure Zone Map
Binary designation — green indicates RPZ county, grey indicates no designated areas
Source: RTB RPZ Designation Register, 2025
Designated Rent Pressure Zones
Designated RPZ Areas — Rents and Cap Data
Click column headers to sort. YoY change shown in green where at or below the 2% cap.
| Area Name ↕ | County ↕ | Designated ↕ | Rent Cap % ↕ | Avg Rent ↓ | YoY Change ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin City Centre | Dublin | Dec 2016 | 2.0% | €2,400/mo | +1.8% |
| Sandyford | Dublin | Dec 2016 | 2.0% | €2,100/mo | +2.0% |
| Drumcondra | Dublin | Dec 2016 | 2.0% | €1,950/mo | +1.5% |
| Bray | Wicklow | Jul 2018 | 2.0% | €1,750/mo | +1.8% |
| Cork City | Cork | Mar 2017 | 2.0% | €1,650/mo | +1.9% |
| Galway City | Galway | Jul 2018 | 2.0% | €1,600/mo | +2.0% |
| Limerick City | Limerick | Sept 2021 | 2.0% | €1,500/mo | +1.7% |
| Newbridge | Kildare | Jul 2018 | 2.0% | €1,400/mo | +2.2% |
| Navan | Meath | Jun 2019 | 2.0% | €1,350/mo | +2.4% |
| Dundalk | Louth | Sept 2021 | 2.0% | €1,300/mo | +2.6% |
Source: RTB Rent Index, RTB RPZ Register, 2025
Rent Growth: RPZ Areas vs Non-RPZ Areas 2016–2025
RPZ rents grow more slowly in percentage terms under the cap, but absolute levels remain higher as RPZs cover high-demand urban markets.
Average Monthly Rent — RPZ vs Non-RPZ Areas
RPZ areas (green solid) vs non-RPZ areas (grey dashed), 2016–2025
Source: RTB Rent Index, 2025
RTB Compliance and Enforcement Statistics
Investigations per year
820
% found in breach
64.8%
Data period
2016–2025
RTB RPZ Investigations Opened by Year
Source: RTB Annual Report, 2019–2025
How Rent Pressure Zones Evolved
The scheme has expanded steadily since 2016, with criteria widened and the cap mechanism refined.
2016 — RPZ Introduced
—
2019 — Extended
—
2021 — All Cities
—
2022 — HICP Link
—
2025 — Current Rules
—
Tenant Protections Under RPZ Rules
Rent Certainty
Maximum 2% annual increase. Landlord must prove the HICP calculation in writing before raising rent — verbal or informal notices are invalid.
Dispute Process
If a landlord overcharges, tenants can apply for RTB mediation. RTB targets initial contact within 10 days of a valid dispute application.
Complaint Route
File at RTB.ie. Include your rental address, the amount charged, and evidence of the increase. Average resolution time is approximately 45 days.
The Case For and Against Rent Pressure Zones
Landlord View
Caps disincentivise new supply
Landlord representative bodies point to an estimated 23,000 landlord exits from 2018–2025, arguing that rent caps reduce the viability of small landlords and depress investment in new rental stock.
Tenant View
Essential price certainty
Tenant advocacy groups argue that RPZs provide essential stability for the 180,000 households in designated areas, preventing displacement and enabling long-term community stability.
PropertyTech presents both perspectives — this section reflects stakeholder positions, not editorial opinion.
Methodology & Sources
RPZ designation data is sourced from the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) official designation register. Compliance and enforcement statistics are from RTB Annual Reports. Rent data is from the RTB Rent Index, which is based on new tenancy registrations.
The legislative basis for RPZs is the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended by the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Acts 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2022). County-level designation reflects whether any local electoral area within the county boundary has been designated.
All figures reflect the position as of 31 December 2025. Data year range: 2016–2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rent pressure zone in Ireland?
A Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) is a designated area in Ireland where annual rent increases are capped. In an RPZ, landlords cannot raise rent by more than the rate of general inflation (HICP) or 2%, whichever is lower. RPZs were introduced under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 to provide certainty for tenants in high-demand rental markets.
How much can a landlord increase rent in an RPZ?
In a Rent Pressure Zone, a landlord can increase rent by a maximum of 2% annually (HICP-linked). The increase must be based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), and the landlord must provide a written calculation showing compliance. If HICP inflation is below 2%, the lower figure applies.
Is my area an RPZ in Ireland?
You can check if your area is an RPZ on the RTB website. Currently there are 53 designated areas across Ireland, covering approximately 55% of the private rental market. All major cities and many suburban areas are designated. Check rtb.ie for the full up-to-date list.
Do rent pressure zones actually work?
The evidence is mixed. RPZ areas have seen rent growth slow relative to their pre-designation trajectory, but absolute rents remain higher in RPZ areas than non-RPZ areas because RPZs cover urban high-demand markets. RTB compliance data shows 64.8% of investigated cases result in a breach finding, suggesting enforcement challenges remain.
What happens if a landlord breaks RPZ rules?
If a landlord overcharges rent in an RPZ, a tenant can file a dispute with the RTB. The RTB will investigate and, if a breach is found, can order a rent reduction and require repayment of excess rent. RTB data shows 64.8% of investigated cases result in a breach finding. The RTB opened 820 investigations in the most recent year.
When were rent pressure zones introduced in Ireland?
Rent Pressure Zones were introduced in December 2016 under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015. The first designations covered four Dublin local government areas and Cork City. The scheme has since been extended multiple times, with all city areas automatically designated in 2021 and the cap linked to HICP inflation (maximum 2%) from 2022.