Legislation change in March 2026: Causing Concern

Many landlords and tenants nationwide are deeply concerned about the proposed legislative changes set for Q1 2026. Amid growing anxiety and uncertainty, here is what we know for certain: existing tenancies will remain unaffected. Some landlords have rushed to panic sell investment properties to avoid the new rules, but in December 2025, the government sent letters to reassure all landlords and tenants that the new legislation will only apply to tenancies starting from March 2026 onward.

Here’s a list of proposed new changes due to come our way as of the 1st of March 2026.

Tenancies of Minimum Duration (TMD’s) introduced. Tenancies commencing on or after the 1st of March 2026 will be rolling 6-year tenancies and the only reason for termination of these TMD’s will be that the tenant is not meeting their obligations as set out by the legislation or the property is no longer suiting their needs. Under the current legislation, the tenant does have security of tenure but the property owner (landlord) can still terminate for the following 6 reasons: 1) the owner intends to sell the property, 2) the owner intends to substantially refurbish the property 3) the owner intends to live in the property themselves or give it to any family member to live in 4)the tenant does not meet their obligations, 5) the property is no longer suitable for the needs of the tenant 6)change of use from domestic to commercial or vice versa.
Landlords of 3 or less properties can still terminate at any time under the new legislation if they can prove financial hardship or the landlord or a close family member requires the property back for their own use.
Landlords of 4 or more properties will not be allowed to end the tenancy for sale, renovation, occupation, or change of use but may end the tenancy if the tenant breaches their obligations or the accommodation is no longer suited to their needs.
At the end of the 6 year cycle, smaller landlords may end the tenancy using existing legal grounds, including sale, renovation, occupation, or change of use.
From 1 March 2026 onwards, for all new tenancies, landlords may set rent at market rates if the previous rent was below market value and the previous tenant either left voluntarily or breached their tenancy obligations. Subsequent rent increases will be limited to the lower of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate or 2%. At the end of each six-year cycle, the tenancy concludes, allowing the landlord to reset or adjust the rent again, even if the same tenants remain for another six-year period.
For existing tenancies (in place on 28 February 2026), rent increases will be capped at the rate of inflation according to CPI or 2%, whichever is lower.

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