The Environment Minister Alan Kelly says landlords have nothing to fear from new rental legislation being introduced.

Among the measures announced yesterday are two year rent freezes for tenants and tax incentives for landlords who take social welfare recipients.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill will also provide for the creation of a deposit protection scheme.

It will mean deposits are lodged with the PRTB, as opposed to the landlord, with consent of both parties required to draw it down on completion of a tenancy.

The measures will oblige landlords to provide more evidence that rent increases are in line with the local market rate, and will legally oblige them to inform tenants of their rights.

The measures will also combine with previous announcements - including the introduction of a vacant site levy and 20,000 starter homes for the greater Dublin area to be funded by NAMA.

The plan also says the national apartment planning guidelines will improve consistency in the approach to future apartment developments, and will enhance supply and affordability by bringing down costs.

The coalition claims it brings certainty to the market - but opposition members say the new rules do not tackle the problem of short-term one year contracts.

Fianna Fáil say the rent reforms have failed to deliver 'family-friendly' leases.

Dublin City Councillor Paul McAuliffe says certainty is about more than money and families need to know they will not be forced to leave their homes.

He says long term leases would be a better solution - and thinks the new rules are too messy.

Lorcan Sirr, lecturer in housing at DIT, told Newstalk Breakfast this is good news for tenants - but it will see more bureaucracy in the system.

But Minister Alan Kelly told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk these measures are aimed at unscrupulous landlords.