Bill regulating rent pressure zone properties passes

The Bill will now go to the President to be signed into law

The Residential Tenancies Bill has passed all stages of the Dáil and the Seanad and will now go to the President to be signed into law.

The Bill gives powers to the Residential Tenancies Board to investigate and sanction landlords if they breach rent caps.

It will make it a criminal offence for landlords with properties in Rent Pressure Zones to raise the rent above the legally allowed 4%.

The Bill will also make it a criminal offence for landlords to fail to co-operate with an investigation as well as a failure to register and update tenancies with the RTB.

The new rules will also empower the RTB to investigate, without the need for a complaint from the public.

It will mean notice periods given to tenants by landlords will be extended.

The Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy wants to fast track the signing of the Bill by President Michael D Higgins.

A spokesperson for the Minister said this would ensure the new arrangements can come into operation at the beginning of July.

He also said a four week public information campaign will be held in June.