The RTB Profile of the Register of Private Tenancies is a new data series presenting information on all private tenancies registered with the RTB at the at the end of each quarter (point in time) from Q2 2023 onwards.
The Residential Tenancies Board has a statutory responsibility to maintain a register of private, cost rental, student specific and approved housing body tenancies based on data provided by landlords or their agents through the registration process. The RTB operates two statutory processes through which landlords or their agents can fulfil the registration requirements: Registration on the commencement of a tenancy (First Registration) and Annual registration during a tenancy (Renewal Registration). The RTB Profile of the Register of private tenancies is based on all private tenancies registered with the RTB at the end of each quarter.
Between Q4 2021 and Q2 2023, the RTB implemented a number of new registration processes for private and AHB tenancies to improve the quality of data collected:
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new requirement to renew tenancies annually which means that landlords or their agents are required to confirm or update the tenancy details on the anniversary of the tenancy as part of the renewal process
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automatic removal of tenancies which are not renewed. Prior to this, a tenancy that had ended could have remained on the RTB register for up to six years if a landlord failed to notify the RTB that the tenancy had ended.
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validated unique identifier for all tenancy addresses on the register (Eircode or other unique identifier where there is no Eircode). Duplicate tenancies at the same address are no longer possible.
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verified identification for all landlords associated with registered tenancies (PPSN or CRO number).
The system improvements and enhanced validation processes mean that this new ‘profile of the register’ data series is not directly comparable to tenancy figures published for periods prior to Q2 2023. The reduction in the number of private tenancies registered and landlords associated, when compared with RTB registration figures published prior to Q2 2023, should not be attributed solely to landlords leaving the sector. The reduction should primarily be attributed to improved verification processes and the introduction of the requirement for landlords to register tenancies annually, which has removed inactive tenancies and duplicates from the register.