Kerry County Council has published details of upcoming changes to rents paid by its tenants.
In a statement issued this evening, the council stressed that this is the first adjustment to the rent cap since 2004.
A council representative states that Kerry has one of the lowest rent caps of any local authority, and which has been in place for over twenty years.
In Monday’s Budget 2026 meeting, Kerry County Council’s director of finance, Angela McAllen confirmed that the current cap will be phased out over the next three years.
Kerry County Council began issuing correspondence to its 5,000 tenants this week, informing them of the changes taking effect in February (2026).
It says 62% will not be affected by the changes, with fewer than 2-in-5 (38%) experiencing a rent increase.
Council executives say the existing rent cap has created inequities in Kerry over time, with those earning higher incomes proportionally paying less rent than those on lower incomes.
Under the new scheme, the provision that no household pays more than 20% of its assessable income on rent, regardless of what is earned, will remain in place.
Households in which the only source of income is the State pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory) and households on low incomes will not be affected by the revised scheme.
Presenting the budget, which Kerry county councillors adopted on Monday, Ms McAllen said the additional revenue generated by the rent increase will be used to strengthen the housing maintenance budget, support preventative maintenance and retrofitting, and increase funding for Residents’ Associations and estate upkeep.
Management has also promised that the council will liaise constructively and openly with all tenants as the new rents take effect.
Tenant with queries can contact Kerry County Council’s housing unit on 066 7183708 or at [email protected]
