An obligation already existed under the legislation for landlords of properties in Rent Pressure Zones (“RPZs”) to provide the tenant with certain information on the commencement of a tenancy including the amount of rent under the last tenancy at the property, the date the rent was last set and how that rent was calculated. The 2026 Act extends this obligation nationally and provides that the Landlord must copy the relevant details to the RTB as well as providing them to the tenant.

The following information must be provided to the tenant and the RTB on the commencement of a tenancy after 1 March 2026;

  • the previous rent amount - the rental figure that applied most recently before the current tenancy began, if there was an earlier tenancy of the same property.
  • the date of last rent setting - when the rental amount under the previous tenancy (if one existed) was last determined.
  • rent calculation explanation - a written explanation detailing the methodology used to arrive at the rent amount for the new tenancy, which must take into account the national rent control framework provided for in the 2026 Act limiting the annual rent increase to the Consumer Price Index or, if lower, 2% per annum (except for new apartments or purpose built SSA commenced after [10 June] 2025 to which the 2% limit does not apply).
  • the RTB registration number of the previous tenancy - the unique reference number allocated by the RTB for the most recent previous tenancy of the dwelling, if such a tenancy existed.
  • comparative rental data details obtained from the RTB's published register showing the rental amounts and RTB registration numbers for tenancies of three comparable properties that commenced before the new tenancy. These properties must match the landlord’s property in terms of floor space measurements, number of bedrooms, type, character and (where relevant) Building Energy Rating. The properties must also be situated in a comparable area.

This represents a strengthening of transparency requirements in the residential tenancy sector, moving from a regime that applied only in designated rent pressure zones to a nationwide system with enhanced information requirements and dual reporting obligations to both tenants and the RTB.

Yes, the 2026 Act confirms that notices and other documents under the residential tenancy legislation can be served electronically to an email address, fax number or other electronic contact point. The 2026 Act requires a delivery record or confirmation that the electronic communication was sent.

Yes, the requirement for a landlord claiming an exemption from the rent increase restriction to serve a notice in the prescribed form on the RTB together with all relevant supporting information continues to apply and has been extended.

This RTB notice was required before the 2026 Act where the rent was set to market rent for (1) the first letting of a new property coming onto the market, (2) at the start of a tenancy of a property where there had been no tenancy in the property for the previous two years (one year for protected structures) and (3) where there had been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation. The 2026 Act retains this requirement and provides that the notice must also now be served on the tenant as well as the RTB.

The 2026 Act also applies this requirement to serve a notice of exemption from the annual rent increase restriction on the RTB and the tenant where the rent has been reset for new post 1 March 2026 tenancies where the previous tenant left voluntarily or as a result of the breach of their obligations and where the rent is reset after 6 years (or 3 years for SSA).

The substantive requirements for the content and timing of this notice remains unchanged by the 2026 Act. The notice must:

· be in the prescribed form;

· be accompanied by all relevant supporting information;

· set out the reasons why, in the landlord's opinion, the rent increase restriction does not apply;

· specify the rent set under the tenancy and the amount of rent last set under the tenancy; and

· be served within one month from the setting of the rent.

Yes, the 2026 Act makes the following changes in respect of rent review notices [served after the commencement of the relevant provision in the 2026 Act];

· the rent review notice must now be served by a landlord on the RTB as well as the tenant;

· in setting the rent a landlord must have regard to the rent information in the newly published RTB register instead of [the letting values of dwellings];

· in identifying similar dwellings for comparison, a landlord must have regard to the floor area, the number of bedrooms and the BER rating as well as the type and character of the dwellings;

· The rent review notice must now include the RTB registration number for the three comparable tenancies, the floor area of the property and the BER (where applicable); and

· A new offence is created for landlord non-compliance with these rent review notice requirements.

The 2026 Act amends the registration requirements to add three new mandatory pieces of information: the number of bed spaces; the floor area and the Building Energy Rating (BER) (where applicable).