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Residential Tenancies Act 2004 - Registration of Tenancies

The provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 introduce new registration requirements for tenancies in the private rented residential sector. Up to now, landlords were obliged to register tenancies with the local authority under the 1996 registration regulations. These regulations have been repealed and tenancies must now be registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

From 1st September 2004 all tenancies must be registered with the PRTB. All existing tenancies, including those currently registered with the local authority, must be registered with the PRTB within 3 months (i.e. by 1st December 2004). All new tenancies must be registered within that period or within one month of the commencement of the tenancy, whichever is the later. Registration with the PRTB is a legal requirement and failure to register may be an offence.

The fee payable to register a tenancy is €70. If a number of tenancies in a single building are being registered at the same time and within the time limits outlined above, a single composite fee of €300 may apply.

If in the previous 12 months you have registered the tenancy with the local authority under the 1996 regulations and paid the appropriate fee, no fee will be charged by the PRTB. You will have to provide evidence of this registration to benefit from the fee exemption (registration number, registration receipt, copy registration entry, etc.).

Unlike the previous registration procedure, the PRTB registration is not a yearly procedure. Each registration will last for the duration of the tenancy. You need only register a tenancy when a new tenancy commences. However, it should be noted that under the provisions of the Act, the maximum length of any tenancy is 4 years. Therefore, every tenancy automatically terminates after 4 years and a new tenancy is created, even where that new tenancy is between the same parties. This new tenancy must be registered with the PRTB.

Following registration, a Registration Number along with details of the registration will be issued to you and your tenant(s). This documentation should be kept in a safe place as it may be required for future dealings with the PRTB.

Contact Details

Any queries regarding this matter or in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 should be directed to:

The Private Residential Tenancies Board
2nd Floor
O' Connell Bridge House
D' Olier Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6350600
Fax: +353 1 6350601
Email: information@prtb.ie