Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced on 24 December 2016, initially covering Dublin and Cork, with annual rent increases generally limited to 4%. Further areas were designated over the following years, and the legislation was extended and amended in 2019. From July 2021, the 4% limit was replaced by a cap of 2% or the rate of inflation (HICP), whichever was lower, subject to statutory exceptions. The rules have since been amended again, so check the RTB or gov.ie for the current position; any dispute is ultimately determined through the RTB process or by a solicitor based on the tenancy’s facts.