What are Rent Pressure Zones?
A Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) is a designated area where rents cannot be increased by more than general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of the Consumer Price (HICP). Any rent increase in a RPZ can not exceed general inflation, as recorded by Harmonised Index of the Consumer Price (HICP) and the rent previously set, cannot increase by more than 2% per year pro rata, where HICP inflation is higher. This applies to new and existing tenancies (unless an exemption is being applied).
Rent Pressure Zones are located in parts of the country where rents are highest and rising, and where households have the greatest difficulty finding affordable accommodation. They are intended to moderate the rise in rents in these areas and create a stable and sustainable rental market that allows landlord and tenants to plan financially for their future.
What criteria must an area meet to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone?
For an area to be designated a Rent Pressure Zone, the following criteria is used:
- The standardised average rent in the previous quarter must be above the appropriate reference standardised average rent in the quarter; and
- The annual rate of rent inflation in the area must have been 7% or more in four of the last six quarters.
There are three different standardised average rents (see below), which to use depends on the location of the area being assessed:
Dublin: The standardised average rent in Dublin is now compared to the National Standardised Average Rent for the propose of RPZ designation. All of Dublin is currently designated as an RPZ.
GDA: The standardised average rent for LEA’s in the GDA (Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, excluding Dublin) is now compared to the Non-Dublin Standardised Average Rent for the purposes of designating an LEA as an RPZ. The Non-Dublin standardised average rent refers to the standardised average rent in the country, when Dublin is excluded.
Rest of Country: The standardised average rent for LEA’s in the rest of the country is now compared to the Rest of Country Standardised Average Rent for the purposes of designating an LEA as an RPZ. The Rest of Country standardised average rent refers to the standardised average rent in the country, when Dublin and the GDA are excluded.
The new legislation extends all current Rent Pressure Zones out until 31 December 2024. To find out if you are in a Rent Pressure Zone you can type your address into the RPZ Rent Calculator.
Outlined below is the list of the Local Authority (LA) areas and Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) that have been designated as Rent Pressure Zones and the dates they were designated.: All of the RPZs listed below will remain designated as a RPZ until 31 December 2024.
Where are Rent Pressure Zones currently?
24th December 2016
Cork City Council
Dublin City Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Fingal County Council
South Dublin County Council
27th January 2017
Ballincollig – Carrigaline LEA, Co. Cork
Galway City Central LEA, Co. Galway
Galway City East LEA, Co, Galway
Galway City West LEA, Co. Galway
Celbridge-Leixlip LEA, Co. Kildare
Naas LEA, Co. Kildare
Newbridge LEA, Co. Kildare
Ashbourne LEA, Co. Meath
Laytown-Bettystown LEA, Co. Meath
Ratoath LEA, Co. Meath
Bray LEA, Co. Wicklow
Wicklow LEA, Co. Wicklow
24th March 2017
Cobh LEA, Co. Cork
Maynooth LEA, Co. Kildare
22nd September 2017
Drogheda LEA, Co. Louth
Greystones LEA, Co. Wicklow
28th March 2019
Limerick City East LEA, Co. Limerick
Navan LEA, Co. Meath
2nd July 2019
Fermoy LEA, Co. Cork
Midleton LEA, Co. Cork
Athenry-Oranmore LEA, Co. Galway
Gort-Kinvara LEA, Co. Galway
Kilkenny LEA, Co. Kilkenny
Graiguecullen-Portarlington LEA, Co. Laois
Portlaoise LEA, Co. Laois
Limerick City North LEA, Co. Limerick
Limerick City West LEA, Co. Limerick
Ardee LEA, Co. Louth
Dundalk-Carlingford LEA, Co. Louth
Dundalk South LEA, Co. Louth
Kells LEA, Co. Meath
Trim LEA, Co. Meath
Waterford City East LEA, Co. Waterford
Waterford City South LEA, Co. Waterford
Athlone LEA, Co. Westmeath
Gorey LEA, Co. Wexford
Arklow LEA, Co. Wicklow
26th September 2019
Carlow LEA, Co. Carlow
Macroom LEA, Co. Cork
18th December 2019
Cobh LEA, Co. Cork
Piltown LEA, Co. Kilkenny
Sligo-Strandhill LEA, Co. Sligo
Baltinglass LEA, Co. Wicklow
22nd April 2020
Mallow LEA, Co. Cork
Killarney LEA, Co. Kerry
Athy LEA, Co. Kildare
Tullamore LEA, Co. Offaly
Mullingar LEA, Co. Westmeath
16th July 2020
Bandon-Kinsale LEA, Co. Cork
29th September 2020
Kildare County Council