Q: I’m a landlord renting out a house to a family. What are the rules about registering the tenancy?

A: You must register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). You can register the tenancy online using the RTB’s online system. You can also register by post. When you register the tenancy, you need to give detailed information about the property including:

* The address of the rented home
* The name, address and PPS Number of the landlord
* The name and PPS Number of each tenant
* A description of the property
* The date the tenancy started
* The rent and how often it is paid
* The local authority area the property is located in
* The term of the lease if it is a fixed-term lease
* The Building Energy Rating (BER) if applicable

Q: What tenancies must be registered?

A: Most privately rented properties must be registered with the RTB. This also includes properties rented out by approved housing bodies and student-specific accommodation.

Q: How often do I need to register the tenancy?

A: Landlords must register the tenancy every year that the tenancy continues. This must be done within a month of the date of when the tenancy began. Annual registration began on April 4, 2022.

Q: Do I need to pay a registration fee?

A: You must pay an annual registration fee. The fees are different depending on the type of tenancy. For example, Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) tenancies pay a different fee to private rented tenancies. The basic fee for registering a private rented or student-specific with the RTB is €40 a year. There are exceptions to the fees in certain circumstances.

Q: What happens if I don’t register a tenancy?

A: You can be fined up to €4,000 and face imprisonment for up to six months on conviction. A further penalty of €250 for each day of non-registration can be applied. You will also have to pay the RTB's legal costs.

Read more about registering a tenancy on www.citizensinformation.ie or you can call a member of the local Citizens Information Service in Kerry on 0818 07 7860. The telephone lines are staffed from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. The National Phone Service is available on 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm. Alternatively, you can email tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie.