Ireland's rent increase rules from 1 March 2026, explained

The cap is the lower of two numbers

Since 1 March 2026 a single national rent control regime applies. The maximum increase between one rent setting and the next is the lower of the change in the Consumer Price Index over the period and an annualised 2%.

Because the 2% ceiling is annualised, the longer the gap since the rent was last set, the more headroom it allows: 2% over a year, roughly 2.76% over 504 days, roughly 4% over two years. The CPI leg is not annualised — it is simply the change in the index between the two reference months.

• Max rate = min(ΔCPI, 2% × days ÷ 365)
• If ΔCPI is negative the maximum increase is 0% — you may not raise the rent, but you are not obliged to lower it
• Round the resulting rent down, not up

How often you may review the rent

The rent may be set at most once every 12 months. There is one exception: a dwelling that came into a Rent Pressure Zone in the two years before 1 March 2026 and whose rent has not been reviewed since must wait 24 months for its first review.

The interval runs from the date the current rent took effect, not from the date the last notice was served.

The 90-day notice period

A Notice of Rent Review must be signed and served at least 90 days before the new rent takes effect. If the 12- or 24-month interval expires later than 90 days from the date of service, the later date governs.

Serving the notice earlier is allowed and often sensible — it simply means a longer gap before the new rent applies. If you post the notice, allow a few days more: the date of posting counts as service, but a postal delay can leave the tenant with less than the full 90 days.

What the notice must contain

Beyond the parties, the dwelling, the old and new rent and the effective date, the notice must cite three comparable dwellings advertised for rent within the previous four weeks, and should show how the maximum permitted rent was arrived at.

Questions

How much can I increase the rent in Ireland in 2026?

The lower of the CPI change since the rent was last set and an annualised 2%. Over a 12-month period that works out at 2% or less.

Does this apply outside Dublin?

Yes. The national rent control applies to every tenancy in the State. There are no longer designated zones.