Question: Can a landlord or letting agency ask me for personal information like my PPS number when starting a new tenancy?

Answer: Yes, a landlord or letting agent can ask you for certain personal information, but only at a specific point in the process of finding somewhere new to rent.

A landlord needs the PPS number of every tenant who is renting their property so they can register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board, which landlords must do by law. See registering a tenancy for more information.

You may also be asked for the following information when you rent a property:

* Recent bank statements
* A reference from your previous landlord
* A reference from your employer
* Recent payslips
* Photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence

You should only be asked for these details when you are offered the property to rent. You should not have to give this information when you register with a letting or estate agent, or to view a property with an agent or a private landlord.

Any personal information you give your landlord or agent should only be used by them in accordance with data protection legislation.

You can read more about tenants’ rights and obligations on citizensinformation.ie.

You can also get information and advice from:

The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).
Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer. You can contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.

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During COVID-19, you can find comprehensive integrated information online at citizensinformation.ie/covid19/ and you can get daily updates on what’s changed on Twitter at @citizensinfo. You can also get information and advice from:
Tralee on Tel: Call 0818 07 7860, Monday – Friday (10am-4pm)
The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm
Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer