This report examines the potential for rent regulation in the Irish context. This is the first of two reports on the private rented sector which considers short-term and medium to long term options to address the recent escalation in rents. It examines a range of issues in regard to rent stability; including the current tax treatment of the rental sector, the potential for indexation of Rent Supplement and the potential for rent regulation in an Irish context should a political decision be made in favour of rent regulation. The findings are informed by a comprehensive review of rent regulation in other jurisdictions, which examines how they are administered, the pros and cons of different approaches and their impacts.