A landlord is the owner of a property who leases or rents it to another person. The person who rents the property is a tenant. The agreement between the landlord and tenant is a tenancy. 

Becoming a Landlord – what you need to know…

As a landlord, you must: 

● Register the tenancy every year with the RTB and update them about any changes to the tenancy, such as a change in rent 

● Provide your tenant with a rent book or statement of rent paid 

● Make sure that the property meets certain minimum standards (though the standards for food preparation, storage and laundry purposes do not apply to AHBs)

● Repair and maintain the inside of the property to the standard it was in at the start of the tenancy 

● Repair and maintain the structure of the property 

● Provide a Building Energy Rating (BER) for the property 

● Reimburse tenants for any repairs they make which are your responsibility ● Insure the property (if it is impossible to get insurance, or if the cost is unreasonable, this doesn’t apply) 

● Provide the tenant with information about any agents who are authorised to deal with them on your behalf (such as management companies, agencies, personal representatives) 

● Ensure that the tenant knows how to contact you or your agent 

● Give private tenants 90 days’ notice of a rent review and follow the rules about how often you can do this (AHBs should give notice “as soon as is practicable”)

● Provide tenants with a valid written notice of termination and follow all the rules around terminating a tenancy 

The landlord must ensure that the property does not have damp and is structurally sound internally and externally. 

This means that roofs, roofing tiles, slates, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, skirting boards, fascia, tiles on any floor, ceiling and wall, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas must be kept in good condition. They must not be defective because of dampness or for any other reason. 

The landlord must also ensure that: 

● Electricity or gas supplies are safe and in good repair 

● Every room is adequately ventilated with heating that tenants can control ● Every room has both natural and artificial lighting

Private landlords must provide their tenants with access to: 

● A washing machine 

● A clothes-dryer if the property does not have a private garden or yard They must also provide facilities for cooking and for the hygienic storage of food, including: 

● A 4-ring hob with oven and grill 

● A cooker hood or extractor fan 

● A fridge and freezer, or a fridge-freezer 

● A microwave oven 

● Suitable and adequate storage cupboards for storing food and non-food items (for example, cleaning products) 

● Sink with mains water supply of cold drinking water, piped supply of hot water and draining area 

● A sink with hot and cold water 

● A separate room, for the exclusive use of each rented unit, with a toilet, a washbasin and a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water. These facilities must be maintained in good working order and the room must be well ventilated. 

● A permanently fixed heater in each bathroom or shower room. These must be working well and be properly maintained. 

● A fixed heating appliance in each room, which provides enough heat for the room and can be controlled by the tenant. There should also be suitable facilities for removing fumes. 

● A fire blanket and fire detection and alarm system 

● Access to vermin-proof and pest-proof rubbish storage facilities. The landlord must also make efforts to prevent the infestation of pests and vermin at the property.

● Safety restrictors on windows that are located above a certain height, to prevent falls ● Information on the property, building services, appliances and their maintenance requirements 

● A carbon monoxide alarm which must be suitably located and maintained If a landlord fails to meet the minimum standards, they can be penalised and prosecuted.

Landlords must register residential tenancies with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) every year and update the RTB if information about a tenancy changes. 

The RTB uses this information to keep a public register of tenancies. The register shows the address of the property and the number of bedrooms. It does not show the identity of the landlord or the tenants, or the amount of rent paid. 

Since 4 April 2022, landlords have to register their tenancies annually. Tenancies must be registered every year, within a month of the date of when the tenancy began. 

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 sets out the requirement for tenancies to be registered annually.

Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are areas where rents are highest and rising quickly. An area must meet certain criteria to become an RPZ. In these areas, annual rent increases are capped. 

RPZs were introduced on 24 December 2016. They were due to end on 31 December 2024, but the Government extended them until 31 December 2025. 

See below for the list of areas that are Rent Pressure Zones. 

While a dwelling should be left clean and tidy when the tenant leaves, a landlord cannot expect the dwelling to be returned in the same condition it was presented in at the beginning of the tenancy. The tenant should not do anything which causes damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear. 

It can be difficult to identify what is normal wear and tear and what is excess wear and tear 

A landlord must take the following into consideration when determining what is considered normal wear and tear: 

● the length of the tenancy, 

● the number of occupants in the dwelling, 

● whether or not there were children living in the dwelling, 

● whether any deterioration to fixtures, furnishings, walls or floor coverings reflected “ordinary and reasonable use”, and other relevant matters including: 

○ the condition and age of fixtures and furnishings at the commencement of the tenancy 

○ type of flooring (carpet, tiles, wood or laminate) 

Scuffs and scrapes are unavoidable, for example a dwelling a dwelling with 5 occupants would be expected to show more signs of wear and tear when compared to a dwelling that is occupied by a single person. 

Dwellings require painting at reasonable intervals and furniture, fittings and appliances have an expected life span. 

Damages which would be considered excess of reasonable wear and tear would likely include: 

– holes in walls and doors 

– burn marks 

– excessive staining to carpets 

– missing fixtures

– smoke damage in the event that smoking was expressly prohibited 

– torn curtains 

– broken glass in windows 

However, what is considered reasonable wear and tear after one month is different to reasonable wear and tear after a tenancy of ten years’ duration. 

you cannot ask for upfront payments of more than 2 month’s rent when renting out a property. This includes a deposit of a month’s rent and one month’s rent in advance. This came in under the Residential Tenancies (No.2) Act 2021. Students in student-specific tenancies can opt-out of this restriction and pay a larger upfront payment if they want. However, this opt-out is only allowed if the student is paying rent and tuition to the same provider, such as a public or private educational provider. 

You can only withhold a tenant’s deposit if: 

● The tenant has not given you proper notice when ending the tenancy ● You have been left with unpaid rent or outstanding bills, for example for electricity or gas 

● The tenant has caused damage beyond normal wear and tear 

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for a tenancy deposit protection scheme, where the RTB would manage and hold deposits for tenants and landlords. These provisions are not yet in effect. 

Landlords and/or their authorised agents may request access at reasonable intervals to carry out repairs or inspections of the property. This must be done at a date/time agreed with you in advance. If a suggested time is not convenient, an alternative should be arranged as soon as possible. There is no legal minimum period of notice that must be given (e.g. 24 hours). It is a matter of what is agreed between you and your landlord/agent. 

Unless there is an emergency situation (e.g. fire or flood), a landlord should not call to the property unannounced or enter the property without your permission. 

If renting on a room-by-room basis the landlord may access the common areas without consent and may show vacant rooms to prospective tenants. 

A tenant cannot change the locks without the landlord’s consent and the landlord would be entitled to a key for emergencies. 

Letting agents typically charge between 6% and 10% of either the monthly or annual rent for their services, though VAT is often not included in the quoted price—so it’s important to clarify this upfront. Some agents may also charge a fixed fee instead of a percentage. In many cases, it’s standard for letting agents to take the first month’s rent as their letting fee.

As mentioned, the general fee range is 6% to 10%, but for comprehensive property management services, the cost usually falls between 6% and 12% of the rent. 

You will probably have to pay a security deposit when you agree to rent a property. The landlord holds this deposit as security to cover any rent arrears, bills owing or damage beyond normal wear and tear at the end of the tenancy. 

You cannot be forced to make upfront payments of more than 2 month’s rent. This includes a deposit of a month’s rent and one month’s rent in advance. 

Your landlord must give you an inventory of the contents of the property. You should keep a record of the condition of everything that is listed, taking photos if possible, and agree this in writing with your landlord. 

When you leave a property at the end of the agreed rental period or after giving the agreed notice, the landlord must return your security deposit, promptly and in full. 

However, if you leave before the end of the agreed period, the landlord may keep your deposit, even if you have given notice. 

The landlord may keep part or all of the deposit in the following situations: 

● Rent arrears 

● Unpaid bills 

● Damage above normal wear and tear 

● If you have not given enough notice 

Landlords and/or their authorised agents may request access at reasonable intervals to carry out repairs or inspections of the property. This must be done at a date/time agreed with you in advance. If a suggested time is not convenient, an alternative should be arranged as soon as possible. There is no legal minimum period of notice that must be given (e.g. 24 hours). It is a matter of what is agreed between you and your landlord/agent. 

Unless there is an emergency situation (e.g. fire or flood), a landlord should not call to the property unannounced or enter the property without your permission. 

If renting on a room-by-room basis the landlord may access the common areas without consent and may show vacant rooms to prospective tenants. 

The landlord must ensure that the property does not have damp and is structurally sound internally and externally. 

This means that roofs, roofing tiles, slates, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, skirting boards, fascia, tiles on any floor, ceiling and wall, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas must be kept in good condition. They must not be defective because of dampness or for any other reason. 

The landlord must also ensure that: 

● Electricity or gas supplies are safe and in good repair 

● Every room is adequately ventilated with heating that tenants can control ● Every room has both natural and artificial lighting 

Private landlords must provide their tenants with access to: 

● A washing machine 

● A clothes-dryer if the property does not have a private garden or yard They must also provide facilities for cooking and for the hygienic storage of food, including: 

● A 4-ring hob with oven and grill 

● A cooker hood or extractor fan 

● A fridge and freezer, or a fridge-freezer 

● A microwave oven 

● Suitable and adequate storage cupboards for storing food and non-food items (for example, cleaning products) 

● Sink with mains water supply of cold drinking water, piped supply of hot water and draining area 

● A sink with hot and cold water 

● A separate room, for the exclusive use of each rented unit, with a toilet, a washbasin and a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water. These facilities must be maintained in good working order and the room must be well ventilated. 

● A permanently fixed heater in each bathroom or shower room. These must be working well and be properly maintained. 

● A fixed heating appliance in each room, which provides enough heat for the room and can be controlled by the tenant. There should also be suitable facilities for removing fumes. 

● A fire blanket and fire detection and alarm system 

● Access to vermin-proof and pest-proof rubbish storage facilities. The landlord must also make efforts to prevent the infestation of pests and vermin at the property.

● Safety restrictors on windows that are located above a certain height, to prevent falls

● Information on the property, building services, appliances and their maintenance requirements 

● A carbon monoxide alarm which must be suitably located and maintained If your landlord fails to meet the minimum standards, they can be penalised and prosecuted.

Subletting occurs when a tenant permits another party to lease the rental property that the tenant has leased from the landlord. The tenant then assumes the position of landlord (known as the head tenant) in relation to his or her subtenant. Subletting usually occurs because the tenant has signed a fixed-term lease and wants, for whatever reason, to get out of the lease before it expires. Subletting can only take place with the consent of the landlord. 

Where a landlord refuses the tenant the option of subletting, the tenant can serve a notice of termination to end the tenancy if they so wish. 

Your rights as a private tenant: 

● You are entitled to quiet and exclusive enjoyment of your home. If noise from other tenants or neighbours is disturbing you, ask them to stop and inform your landlord. If this does not work, you can make a formal complaint 

● You are entitled to certain minimum standards of accommodation 

● You are entitled to a rent book 

● You have the right to contact the landlord or their agent at any reasonable time. You are also entitled to have the correct contact information for them (telephone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses, etc.) 

● Your landlord is only allowed to enter your home with your permission. If your landlord needs to repair or inspect the property, it should be arranged in advance, unless it is an emergency 

● You are entitled to be reimbursed for any repairs that you carry out that are the landlord’s responsibility 

● You are entitled to have visitors to stay overnight or for short periods, unless specifically forbidden in your tenancy agreement. You must tell your landlord if you have an extra person moving in 

● You are entitled to a certain amount of notice if your tenancy is being terminated ● You are entitled to at least 90 days’ notice if your landlord wants to review the rent, and there are rules about how often they can do this 

● You are entitled to refer any disputes to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) without being penalised 

● You have the right to a copy of any register entry the RTB has about your tenancy ● All homes for rent must have a Building Energy Rating (BER), stating how energy-efficient the home is. 

You must: 

● Pay your rent on time 

● Pay any other charges that are specified in the letting agreement, for example, waste collection charges; utility bills; management fees to the management company in an apartment complex 

● Keep the property in good order

● Inform the landlord if repairs are needed and give the landlord access to the property to do the repairs 

● Give the landlord access (by appointment) for routine inspections 

● Inform the landlord about who is living in the property 

● Avoid causing damage or nuisance 

● Make sure that you do not cause the landlord to be in breach of the law

● Comply with any special terms in your tenancy agreement, oral or written

● Give the landlord the information they need to register with the RTB

● Give the landlord proper notice when you are ending the tenancy 

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. HAP is provided by your local authority. 

If you are on HAP, your local authority pays your rent directly to your landlord. And you pay a weekly HAP rent contribution to your local authority, based on your income and ability to pay. 

You must find the rented accommodation yourself and the rent your landlord charges must be within the limits for your household type in your local authority’s area . 

You can take up full-time employment and still get HAP. To get the Housing Assistance Payment, you must be on your local authority’s housing list. 

Legally, there is no obligation to have tenants’ insurance. However, it makes sense to have some cover for the loss of your belongings due to theft, fire or flooding. If you own valuable items, such as a computer, tablet or bicycle, it is best to take out cover for these, as otherwise you would have to pay the full cost of replacing them. 

If the mortgage on the property is in arrears and the mortgage lender has appointed a receiver, your tenants must pay the rent to the receiver, but you remain legally responsible for matters such as returning the tenants’ deposits. The receiver may arrange to do repairs.

Only those who are listed as tenants under the tenancy agreement and those who the landlord has been notified of can reside in the property. 

Where you wish to end your tenancy, you must give notice of termination in writing. It is very important to note that email, text or verbal notice is not valid under the law and may not be treated as a notice. The amount of notice you are required to give depends on how long you have been in your tenancy. The normal notice periods are: 

Duration of Tenancy Notice Period

Less than 6 months 28 days 

Not less than 6 months but less than 1 year 

35 days 

More than 1 year but less than 2 years 42 days 

More than 2 years but less than 4 years 56 days 

More than 4 years but less than 8 years 84 days 

8 years or more 112 days 

Security of tenure is a tenant’s right to stay in rented accommodation for a set amount of time. Generally, security of tenure applies automatically when you have been renting for 6 months and haven’t received a valid notice of termination from your landlord in that time. When you have security of tenure, your landlord can only terminate your tenancy for a limited number of reasons. 

The amount of time you are entitled to stay in rented accommodation after the first 6 months depends on when your tenancy began. 

If your tenancy was created after 10 June 2022, you have a tenancy of unlimited duration. This means if you have rented somewhere for 6 months, you have the right to stay in that accommodation indefinitely (no end date), unless the landlord wants to terminate your tenancy for one of the allowed reasons. 

If your tenancy was created before 10 June 2022, you have the right to stay in your rented accommodation for up to 6 years after you have rented for 6 months. At the end of these 6 years, your landlord can end your tenancy without giving a reason, as allowed under the old rules. But, if the landlord does not end your tenancy at this stage, it automatically becomes a tenancy of unlimited duration and has no end date. 

Accordion Contypical requirements: 

1. Proof of Identity 

Passport or National ID card (if you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss national). 

If you’re non-EU, you may need a visa or residence permit (depending on your status). 

2. Proof of Income/Employment 

Pay slips (usually 3-6 months’ worth). 

A letter from your employer confirming your job and salary.

Bank statements showing regular income. 

Self-employed people can provide tax returns or business accounts. 

3. References 

Landlord reference: If you’ve rented before, a reference from your previous landlord can be very helpful. 

Employer reference: Some landlords may want confirmation from your employer that you’re employed and financially stable. 

Personal references: These may not always be required, but some landlords may ask for them. 

4. Deposit 

Typically 1 month’s rent, but it can vary. It’s refunded when you leave the property, provided there’s no damage or unpaid rent. 

5. Proof of Address 

Utility bills, bank statements, or official letters to show where you’ve been living previously. 6. Tenancy Application Form 

Some landlords or agencies will ask you to complete a tenancy application form, providing details about your financial situation, work, and previous rental history. 

7. Tenant Protection 

If you’re in a private rental, your landlord is required to register the tenancy with the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board). 

Ensure you have a formal lease agreement, and you should receive a receipt for any payments made. 

8. Rent Payments 

Rent in Ireland is typically paid monthly, but you may also encounter landlords who ask for it weekly or bi-weekly. 

Many landlords prefer rent to be paid by direct bank transfer or standing order.tent