Would it make sense to leave a rental empty for 2 years to avoid the RPZ rent limits?

[Bronte]

You could live in it yourself, loan to a friend or family member. Lots of my neighbours who were investors in my last tenancy were evicting their tenants to move in their adult children for 2 years, during which the adult child got free rent, could save towards their own deposit, and after 2 years able to drop back onto the market at current market rates - win-win for them.

You've just given me a great idea. I've just sold at actual market value as it's going to be owner occupiers. But I've another I'm holding onto for the 2 years empty. What I'll do then is rent over the market rent, and give the tenants cash back, to actual market rent, and keep my official rent artificially high. I wonder is there anything in the legislation to stop me doing that. The problem then would be the tax. I'll have to think about this some more. Never again will I leave tenants without increasing constantly.

 

[Bronte]

Minister O’Brien receives Government approval for significant changes to RPZs | Residential Tenancies Board

RTB operates Ireland's National Tenancy Register and resolving disputes between Landlords, tenants and third parties. Governed by residential Tenancies Act 2004. View more information on landlords and tenancies.

www.rtb.ie

My understanding was that you couldn't increase by inflation, that they moved to that, inflation went high, and then they restricted the inflation rate too. I see they made it only 2 months rent upfront as deposit, plus one month in advance. But as far as I'm aware students have to pay 6 months, as in pay from Sep to Dec, and pay Jan to May.

 

[lff12]

You've just given me a great idea. I've just sold at actual market value as it's going to be owner occupiers. But I've another I'm holding onto for the 2 years empty. What I'll do then is rent over the market rent, and give the tenants cash back, to actual market rent, and keep my official rent artificially high. I wonder is there anything in the legislation to stop me doing that. The problem then would be the tax. I'll have to think about this some more. Never again will I leave tenants without increasing constantly.

You might need to factor in a) what current govt might do over next 12-18 months and b) what the next govt is going to do after that.