RENTERS across Donegal will enjoy the same protection, security and certainty following the enactment of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025, meaning that rent increase restrictions will apply to all tenancies nationally.

Previously, none of Donegal’s seven local electoral area, were located within a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ).

However, with the enactment of legislation which applies rent controls nationally, renters in Donegal’s seven local electoral areas Donegal, Lifford-Stranorlar, Glenties, Letterkenny, Milford, Letterkenny and Carndonagh are now covered by RPZs.

In RPZs, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation to a maximum of two per cent for existing tenancies.

The extension of current Pressure Zones to a nationwide rent control system was one of the recommendations in the Review of Rent of Rent Pressure Zones Report.

Marking the significant passing of legislation, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said: “Protecting renters is essential in the moves we make now towards increased supply of housing.

“I have moved swiftly to implement national rent controls, expanding the Rent Pressure Zone framework across the entire country, in advance of sweeping changes to our rental system, and a strengthening of rental rights, from March 2026.”

“Critically, this new law immediately provides all renters with the restrictions on rent increases currently found as part of rent pressure zones, preventing increases to their rents of more than two per cent or inflation, whichever is lower. These changes collectively ensure that renters in Donegal, regardless of where they live in the county, now enjoy greater stability, fairer treatment, and stronger legal protections.

“The measures we are introducing strike a fair balance, and one that provides much needed certainty for everyone.”

“We have to strike a balance between landlords, renters, and the urgent need to invigorate more supply of homes, including places to rent as well as places to buy.”