Second year of Annual Registration
Since 04 April 2022, a landlord is obliged to apply to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to register a tenancy - or a licence in Student Specific Accommodation (SSA) - within 1 month of its commencement date and every year after this, on the anniversary of the date the tenancy began, for so long as the tenancy/SSA licence exists.
For existing tenancies, since 04 April 2022, each year on the anniversary of the date the tenancy began, landlords must re-register that tenancy on an annual basis, for so long as the tenancy/ SSA licence exists. Please click here for further information on Annual Registration.
The most efficient way to register your tenancy is by using the RTB’s online tenancy registration system. To find out more information about using the RTB’s online account system, please visit the RTB's online account Information Hub.
Landlords and agents are encouraged to begin their second annual registration renewal cycle as early as possible once it falls due.
Temporary pause on the charging of late fees
In recognition of the genuine difficulties among its user community, the Residential Tenancies Board has applied a temporary pause on the charging of late fees. This applies for the following tenancies:
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new tenancy registrations with a tenancy commencement date on or after the 12 November 2022, and
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for annual registrations of existing tenancies which became due on or after 12 November 2022.
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landlords/ agents who have yet to register a tenancy which was due for registration as a new tenancy registration with a tenancy commencement date on or after the 4 April 2022 or have yet to complete an annual registration of an existing tenancy which became due on or after 4 April 2022 up to 12 November 2022 will still be charged late fees. However, all late fees will be refunded.
Please note that this will not apply to any late fees which have accumulated prior to the introduction of annual registration on 4 April 2022. This also does not apply to providers of Student Specific Accommodation (SSA).
A landlord is still obliged to register a tenancy - or a licence in Student Specific Accommodation (SSA) with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) within 1 month of its commencement date and every year after this, on the anniversary of the date the tenancy began, for so long as the tenancy/SSA licence exists.
Contacting the RTB
The RTB would like to reassure customers that if you have sent an email to the RTB, it will be responded to. The RTB is now responding to received emails within 5 working days. We would ask customers to bear with us and where possible avoid sending follow up emails, as we are working hard to clear our backlog.
There are designated inboxes to help streamline Registration queries.
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If you are experiencing an issue linking existing data from the old system to your online account, please use datalinking@rtb.ie.
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If you have a general Registration query, please contact registrations@rtb.ie.
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If you are an approved housing body landlord and have a query on registrations, please contact ahb@rtb.ie.
It is important that only one email address is contacted as this will allow us to move through queries in a timelier manner. We thank you for your cooperation on this.
Delay processing paper applications
The most efficient way to register your tenancy is by using the RTB’s online tenancy registration system. To find out more information about using the RTB’s online account system, please visit the RTB's online account Information Hub.
It is currently taking up to 7 weeks to process a paper registration form. The RTB would like to reassure customers that if you have sent in a paper form, it will be processed.
Paper forms can be downloaded here or by clicking 'Tenancy Registration Application (RTB1) Form at the bottom of this page. When completed they can be sent by post to Residential Tenancies Board, PO Box 47, Clonakilty, County Cork, or can be scanned and emailed to registrations@rtb.ie.
If you are submitting a registration application by post, a fully completed Registration Application Form RTB1 is required. This applies to both new registrations and annual registration renewals. Should a registration payment be received and not accompanied by a fully completed RTB1 Form, the registration application cannot be processed.
RTB online registration system
The RTB is implementing various technical incremental improvements to our online registration system in Q2 and Q3 this year. We believe that, over the coming months, these improvements will address the key underlying issues which are currently causing difficulties for landlords and agents.
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new annual registration journeys for the customer and supporting information;
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new registration portal journeys for companies who are outside of Ireland and for individuals who reside outside Ireland with no PPSN;
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processes to remove any risk of duplications through advancements in Eircode processing.
Further Part 4 Tenancies & Fees
The RTB would like to remind Private and Approved Housing Body (AHB) landlord/agents that if the existing tenancy became a Further Part Four (FP4) renewal tenancy before 4 April 2022 – when switching to annual registration on or after 4 April 2022 no registration fee will be applicable. This applies once the tenancy is registered on time each year. This fee waiver will remain until the existing 6-year tenancy expires. If the annual registration is processed late, the registration fee and late fees will be applicable.
Examples:
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A FP4 tenancy which was registered in 2017 and paid €90/€180 until 2023 – Will switch to Annual Registration in 2022 but no further payment is required until 2023 once the tenancy is registered on time each year.
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A FP4 tenancy which was registered in 2018 and paid €90/€180 until 2024 – Will switch to Annual Registration in 2022 but no further payment is required until 2024 once the tenancy is registered on time each year.
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A FP4 tenancy which was registered in 2019 and paid €90/€180 until 2025 - Will switch to Annual Registration in 2022 but no further payment is required until 2025 once the tenancy is registered on time each year.
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A FP4 tenancy which was registered in 2020 and paid €90/€180 until 2026 - Will switch to Annual Registration in 2022 but no further payment is required until 2026 once the tenancy is registered on time each year.
Please note the above rules do not apply to FP4 tenancies with a tenancy commencement date in 2021. In this instance the tenancy will move to Annual Registration in 2022 and the fees apply.
RTB Residential Tenancy Agreement
The RTB has also published a new resource specifically for landlords in the form of a template Residential Tenancy Agreement. This new template lease agreement was created to help landlords and tenants get their tenancies off to the right start. It also includes a sample inventory report.
The template contains the basics of a residential tenancy agreement to help landlords and tenants set out the terms of their relationship. Landlords and tenants are encouraged to enter into a written tenancy agreement so that they are clear on the obligations that they owe each other. This template is suitable for new residential tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022, with the exception of tenancies provided by AHBs, including cost rental tenancies, and Student Specific Accommodation. The RTB’s Residential Tenancy Agreement template can be found here and the sample inventory report can be found here.
Please be aware of scams
The RTB reminds people to be aware of potentially fraudulent rental advertisements and tenancy agreements. If an individual responds to a private rental advertisement and receives forms purporting to be from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or the RTB in return, they should not engage further with them. Anyone who believes they have mistakenly provided personal information or paid a deposit in response to these types of fraudulent advertisements and false rental applications/tenancy agreements calls should immediately alert An Garda Síochána.