Mayo plea for scrapping of 'rip-off rent hike legislation'
A Mayo Oireachtas member wants to scrap what she describes as 'rip-off rent hike legislation' before it's too late.
Speaking in Dáil Éireann about the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh claimed the government should be cutting rents, not facilitating them to rise even further.
She elaborated: "Rents are already out of control and renters are drowning in a cost-of-living crisis. Yet, the government's response is to tear up what little protection remains and hand a gift to big institutional investors.
"At the centre of this Bill is the so-called market reset allowing landlords to hike rents to full market levels between tenancies, not 2% and not inflation, but whatever the market can squeeze out of people.
"Students will be the worst hit. I have talked to so many students about this. From September, students entering the private rental sector will face immediate market resets on what they are paying already.
"For families in Mayo, this is absolutely devastating and nothing short of daylight robbery and extortion.
"Commuting is simply not an option for most students and for students in rural Ireland. Parents have no choice but to pay whatever rent is demanded, no matter how extortionate.
"How are parents expected to absorb this on top of the food, fuel, fees and childcare for younger children? How many students will be priced out of education altogether?
"The figures for tenancies in County Mayo for themselves. New tenancies average €1,181, compared with €949 for existing ones.
"That is €232 extra every single month, or nearly €2,800 over a year - a 24% increase.
"That the government is happy to stand over that is unbelievable. The Bill bids farewell to the modest protections of the rent pressure zones with tenancies lasting an average of just three and a half years.
"Within a short few years, most renters will be caught out by this reset. Renters and families need a break. I am appealing for an emergency three-year ban on rent increases. The Bill does exactly the opposite and that is why we will oppose it."
Minister for Housing James Browne said on January 27 the government approved the publication of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026.
"This Bill will amend the current system of rent controls significantly and provide new measures to protect tenants, including a no-fault eviction ban for larger landlords, reduced grounds for smaller landlords and stronger security of tenure.
"It will come into effect for new tenancies from March 1 next. We want to provide certainty, clarity and stability for the rental sector. Cabinet approved the introduction of amendments to rental controls to come into effect on March 1, immediately following the expiration of rent pressure zones.
"These decisions have been informed by the findings of the Housing Agency review of rent pressure zones. These showed the existing rules were restricting supply and potential policy options.
"There is also the agency’s preferred recommendation to modify the existing operation of the current rent controls.
"This followed comprehensive examination by the Housing Agency and stakeholder engagement.
"The approved policy measures aim to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and to keep existing landlords in the market.
"The changes agreed will also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market across the country, taking account of stakeholder engagement."