When a rent-review notice arrives, save it before doing anything else. You need the complete document, its attachments and the date you received it. A rent increase is checked against both the relevant rent rules and the procedure used to notify you.
This checklist is for private residential tenancies. A room in an owner's home may be a licence; student specific accommodation, cost rental and Approved Housing Body rents need their own guidance. Start with the tenant-rights reference if the arrangement is unclear.
1. Establish which rent rule applies
Since 1 March 2026, the ordinary private-tenancy increase limit is 2% or CPI inflation, whichever is lower. Reviews are generally allowed once every 12 months. Qualifying new apartments whose construction commenced after 10 June 2025 follow CPI without the 2% ceiling.
An ongoing tenancy that began before 1 March 2026 cannot be reset to market rent every six years. Tenancies created from that date have specific reset pathways, including the end of a six-year tenancy cycle. A change of tenant does not automatically permit a reset after every landlord termination.
These categories are explained in the RTB's current private-rent rules. If an exception is claimed, ask which provision applies and what evidence supports it. “The market has gone up” is not a calculation.
2. Put the dates in order
Record:
- When your tenancy began.
- When the rent was last set or reviewed.
- When you received the new notice.
- When the proposed rent becomes payable.
These dates answer different questions. The review interval and the advance notice period must both be checked. At least 90 days must pass between service on you and the new rent taking effect.
If there has been a long gap between reviews, do not calculate a maximum by assuming only one year's increase, or by inventing a catch-up percentage. Use the RTB Rent Calculator with the actual dates. Older rent history or a transitional rule may need an RTB check.
3. Check the calculation and comparisons
Follow the RTB rent-review notice guide. For a capped review, check the previous rent, its date and the calculator printout against your records. The paperwork also needs comparable rents from the RTB Rent Register.
Look closely at the comparisons. Bedroom count alone is not enough: size, dwelling type, condition and BER can matter. A larger recently built apartment may be a poor comparison for a smaller older unit.
The RTB Rent Register supplies comparable rents for a selected Local Electoral Area. Entering your Eircode selects the search area; it does not reveal the full rental history of your exact home. To establish that history, use your documents and the landlord's required rent-setting information.
4. Apply the September service rules
For notices served from 14 September 2026, the landlord must send a copy of a rent-review notice to the RTB within seven days of serving it on the tenant. The previous same-day requirement has changed.
A rent-review notice may be served by email, post or hand delivery. Do not reject a notice solely because it arrived by email. Conversely, an informal message announcing a higher rent does not automatically contain the required notice and supporting information.
The RTB September changes explain the current procedure. Ask for confirmation of RTB submission if you are unsure, and retain the reply. A form saved months earlier may contain old instructions.
5. Send a specific written query
Illustrative message: “I received the rent-review notice on 12 October. Please send the calculator printout and the three register comparisons referenced in it, and confirm when the notice was submitted to the RTB. My records show the previous rent was set on [date].”
Describe the gap you found rather than asserting that every increase is illegal. Separate a wrong date, missing attachment and disputed comparison so each can be answered. Keep paying attention to the deadline while correspondence continues.
6. Get advice and protect the referral window
RTB guidance says a rent-review dispute must be referred before the new rent becomes payable or within 28 days of receiving the notice, whichever is later. Do not wait for an informal exchange to finish if the deadline is approaching. See the RTB dispute guidance and ask the RTB to confirm the deadline for your facts.
Mediation is free; adjudication is a separate paid route. An RTB enforcement report and a dispute seeking an individual remedy also serve different purposes. Choose the route with the RTB or an adviser, rather than assuming a report alone will settle your rent.
For the market-comparison side, use is my Dublin rent fair?. If you are exploring alternatives, start a free Dublin search and compare similar homes without treating adverts as proof of a legal rent.
Sources checked on 12 October 2026.