Landlords will have to reveal how much rent they charge tenants

Landlords will have to publicly disclose rent prices under new Government laws aimed at improving transparency and compliance

Government sources say that the introduction of the rent register will help provide more transparency of rent prices across the country. Picture: iStock

The Government is to introduce new laws that would require landlords to disclose the amount of rent charged to tenants, as part of a slate of reforms to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The legislation will provide for the establishment of a new rent price register, similar to the Property Price Register that tracks the sale of homes.

Government sources say that the introduction of the rent register will help provide more transparency of rent prices across the country.

The change is also being implemented to ensure landlords comply with the law on rent price increases in high-demand areas.

Currently, landlords are meant to be restricted to a maximum 2% increase in rents each year, as set out in rent pressure zone (RPZ) legislation.

There will also be a requirement for the landlord to provide information on the building energy rating of the property, under the proposed laws, as well as the number of bedrooms, and the property type.

While plans are in train to provide for the rent price register, it is expected to require engagement with the Data Protection Commissioner before it can be set live.

Housing minister James Browne could bring the legislation to Cabinet for approval as early as tomorrow.

The laws will include some changes to the operation of national RPZ rules, linking the maximum rent increase to inflation levels as set out in the Consumer Price Index, or 2%, whichever is lower.

However, the 2% cap will not apply for new apartments, with Government sources indicating that this is designed to incentivise more construction of apartments.

Measure part of wider reform

The introduction of the rent price register is part of wider reforms to the rental market, announced earlier this year by Mr Browne.

The proposals will allow landlords to reset the rents they charge to the market rate, either when a new tenancy is created, or every six years.

Government sources say the laws will focus on how market rents are determined, with landlords likely to be required to show the reset rent is fair, by including comparisons to similar properties in the area.

The laws will effectively ban no-fault evictions — where a landlord can end a tenancy without having to prove the tenant did something wrong, such as breaking the lease or not paying rent — for larger landlords, with four or more properties.

Smaller landlords will be permitted to evict a tenant in some circumstances, including if they or an immediate family member are planning to live in the property.

A no-fault eviction will be permitted in circumstances where they are selling the property to fund the purchase of their own house.

Landlords will not be permitted to reset their rents after a no-fault eviction.

The legislation is expected to be enacted quickly, with the new laws due to operate from March 1, 2026.

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It comes just a week on from Budget 2026, where a number of measures were taken by the Government to deal with the ongoing housing crisis, including the introduction of a 9% Vat rate on the sale of apartments.

Paschal Donohoe, the finance minister, argued the cut would address the “viability gap” in apartment construction.

Mr Donohoe also confirmed that he would seek to introduce a new derelict property tax to replace the derelict sites levy.

He said the new tax would be charged at a rate of 7% of market value of a given derelict property.

However, this new measure is not expected to be implemented until 2027 at the earliest.