Residential Tenancies Act - Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 as amended, regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector, covering private rental, cost rental, social rental by approved housing bodies and student-specific rental accommodation, and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to:

• operate a national tenancy registration system
• facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants;
• investigate and sanction certain improper conduct by landlords;
• publish guidelines for good practice in the sector,
• provide information,
• conduct research
• provide policy advice and recommendations for legislative change to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Where there is a dispute between a landlord and tenant, the dispute can be referred to the RTB for resolution. Mediation is the most effective and fastest resolution method but adjudication is also available, with an appeal to a tenancy tribunal.

Landlords can only avail of the dispute resolution service with the RTB if the tenancy to which the dispute relates is registered with the RTB. However, tenants can avail of the dispute resolution service even if the tenancy is not registered with the RTB but is a tenancy that is protected by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Additional resources are being provided to the RTB in order for trained RTB facilitators to intervene at an early stage to prevent disputes escalating between parties. Mediation is promoted as the primary RTB dispute resolution service.

The RTB’s website contains valuable information for landlords and tenants on their rights and obligations. The website also provides easy access to information relating to RTB services. Copies of RTB reports and useful forms are available for download.

Residential tenancies covered by the RTA must be registered by the landlord with the RTB and a registration fee paid unless no fee applies - see annual registration guidance on www.rtb.ie).

With effect from 4 April 2022, a landlord is required to register each tenancy with the RTB, within one month of its commencement date, or of each the anniversary of that date. The requirement for annual registration of tenancies enhances RTB data to help better understand the residential rental sector and inform decision making and policy development. The new registration system and enhanced rental data also help the RTB to enforce residential tenancy laws generally but particularly, the requirements for tenancy registration and rent setting.

Tenancy Application Registration Forms (RTB1) and Tenancy Update Forms are available on the RTB’s website.

Further information on annual registration can be found here.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) provides information on residential tenancy matters on its website – www.rtb.ie – and can be contacted by webchat/email (see ‘contact us’ on www.rtb.ie) or by phone 0818 303037.

The national housing charity, Threshold, provides advice and advocacy services to those experiencing difficulties within a tenancy.

A wide range of information, advice and downloads is available on Threshold’s website.

Alternatively, they can be contacted by phone on 1800 454 454.