2026-05-19

144. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken or commissioned any analysis of trends in landlord exits, reductions in rental listings or changes in small landlord participation following the introduction of rent regulation measures, including rent pressure zones and the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026; if he will provide details of any available findings, including regional trends where available, in tabular form; the measures being considered to prevent further loss of rental supply while maintaining tenant protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37528/26]

Has the Department commissioned an analysis of trends in landlord exits, reductions in rental listings or changes in small landlord participation following the introduction of rent regulation measures? I am cautiously optimistic that this will be a blip. Will the Minister provide details of available findings or regional trends where available?

I thank Deputy Heneghan for what is clearly an important question on an issue he has raised on a number of occasions, namely, protections for renters. The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into effect on 1 March 2026, introducing a new national rent control for all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the consumer price index, CPI, up to a maximum of 2%. For new-build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation as measured by the CPI. These changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market but also to ensure significant improvements in the security of tenure for renters. Multiple expert reports, including those from my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Finance, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, the OECD and the International Monetary Foundation, IMF, agree that the former rent pressure zone, RPZ, system was a major obstacle to increasing rental supply. The changes were introduced in order to attract increased investment in the rental market and thereby increase the supply of properties available for renters. Delivering Homes, Building Communities recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system. It contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply of new apartments. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, reports on the profile of the register and on the number of new tenancy registrations it has received on a quarterly basis. The latest data shows that the number of registered landlords and tenancies have increased. Obviously, for people facing notices to quit, it is an extremely distressing situation. Our aim is to increase the overall supply. That is cold comfort to people facing notices to quit but we can increase the supply and ease overall the regrettable situation people are facing in this country.

It would be fantastic if we could and I hope we can. The housing crisis needs this. The RTB’s own data is telling us about the small landlords, those with one or two properties, who are leaving the market at an accelerating rate. To touch on the [vacant above the shop grant], I welcome the scheme and the work that has been done but I wish to ask a question about it because it does need to be re-examined. I know from speaking to the Department that it is currently being introduced and there may be amendments to it. The provision of €95,000 for one unit, €115,000 for two units and €135,000 for three or more units is meaningful, but I would love it to be re-examined for more than three units. It needs to be raised. If we are trying to increase supply, the jump should not be so small. If we are trying to bring back Dublin city, we need to enable people to build above shops.

The over the shop grant is just one of many to help tackle vacancy and dereliction and create additional homes in the centres in our towns and cities and within the hearts of communities. It is win-win. All the facilities are there - water, wastewater, electricity, footpaths and streets. It helps to revitalise the community and acts as an antisocial behaviour measure as well for people to be living in town and city centres and in communities within cities as well. We are giving significant grants but, of course, we keep all grants under continuous review. We encourage people to use them to make these properties available.

If we are trying to increase supply, the grant should be more beneficial when more units are being built. I was a councillor in Dublin city. I understand that the vacant and derelict register need to be updated. I am asking for an urgent review. Regarding the company ownership restriction on the vacant above the shop grant, the Minister acknowledged, which I welcome, that passive surveillance by people living above shops reduces antisocial behaviour. That would be very beneficial. People I represent are waiting for these homes. They are my generation. It would be especially good if we could put in, in conjunction with the regulations, encouragements for people in critical jobs such as those working in Beaumont Hospital, gardaí and nurses because those places above the shops across my constituency could house them. The policy needs to catch up to that reality and I am asking for that to happen. I swayed away from the original question, so I appreciate the leniency.

I welcome Deputy Heneghan's genuine interest in housing solutions. There is no one fix for solving our housing crisis. Supports for people to reuse existing properties to be able to get the homes they need in their local communities are important, and this is something the Deputy is passionate about as well. We will continue to engage right across the House. I will always listen to any proposals to see where we can make changes and continue to evolve our policies.