Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has warned that the Government’s proposed "rent reset" would, in practice, dismantle Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) for most private renters.

The Dublin Mid-West TD made the remarks ahead of the publication of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2025, which would allow landlords to reset rents to market rates for new tenancies from 1 March 2026.

Teachta Ó Broin said: "The government's 'rent reset' proposal will effectively end Rent Pressure Zones for the majority of private rental tenants. While the final legislation has yet to be published, it is clear from the general scheme that the government intends to press ahead with this disastrous proposal in March of this year.

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"According to the General Scheme, from March 1st 2026, landlords will be able to reset the rent to market levels at the start of a new first time tenancy for many tenants and at the end of every six-year tenancy for those tenants.

"Given that the average length of a tenancy is three and a half years and that 25% of tenancies registered in a given year are new tenancies, then the impact of the government's 'rent reset' proposal will be the effective end of Rent Pressure Zones for the vast majority of tenants over a period of four years.

"While a small percentage of renters will continue to have the protection of the Rent Pressure Zones, the fact of the matter is that over time the meager protection that was the RPZs will no longer cover the vast majority of tenants.

"At a time when rents are already too high, the idea that the government would allow rents to rise to even higher rip off levels is unacceptable. Sinn Féin will fight this legislation tooth and nail. Renters need a break. They need their rents cut and frozen.

"Sinn Féin has set out how this could be done by banning rent increases for three years and giving every private renter a fully refundable tax credit to put a full month’s rent back in their pocket."