When you are renting in Ireland, you should always remember your rights as a tenant. Tenants in Ireland have certain rights and obligations covered under the Residential Tenancies Act. Ireland also has a minimum physical standard law, so your landlord has a legal duty that the house they are renting meets certain physical standards.
In this article, we will take you through your rights when renting a house in Ireland, so you know what you are and are not entitled to.
What should I do if I have a disagreement with my landlord?
The Residential Tenancies Board provides a service for resolving disputes between tenants and landlords. If you are ever involved in a disagreement with your landlord and you can’t resolve the situation amicably yourself, you can simply report your dispute online on the RTB website where you can apply for mediation or adjudication.
What rights do I have if I rent a room in my landlord’s house?
If you are renting a room in your landlord’s house, you are not covered under the Residential Tenancies Act. Arranging to draw up a contract or ground rules with your landlord is advisable to clearly state the conditions of the agreement as well as your rights and responsibilities.
How much can my rental security deposit be?
In regards to security deposits, there is a restriction set out in the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 that states that you cannot be forced to make upfront payments of more than 2 month’s rent to your landlord, i.e. you can only be asked for a deposit that is equivalent to one month’s rent, and one month’s rent in advance.
If your landlord requests a larger sum from you, you are entitled to explain to them that you are only obliged to pay a maximum of 2 months' rent in upfront payments.
Could I lose my rental security deposit?
Yes, there are a number of reasons why a landlord may refuse to pay you, their tenant, your deposit back. These include:
- If the property is left before the end of a fixed-term lease or without giving correct notice.
- If damage beyond normal wear and tear is caused to the property.
- To cover any unpaid bills or rent when you, the tenant, leave the property.
Can my rent be increased?
If you are living in a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) your rent cannot increase by more than the general inflation rate, or 2% per year pro rata if the Harmonised Index of the Consumer Price (HICP) is higher.
You can use the RTB’s rent pressure zone calculator to determine if your home is in an RPZ and to calculate the maximum rent increase that’s allowed for your property.
Can I break my lease early?
Once you have signed a lease you must remain as a tenant for the stated time and you can only move out early if your landlord agrees to terminate your lease or if they agree to allow you to sublet your room or property.
To seek permission to end your lease early you can:
- Ask your landlord if it is possible to end your lease early.
- Ask your landlord if you can find someone to sublet the property to.
However, it’s important to note that they are under no obligation to agree to these. If you do neither of the above options and end your lease early, it’s important to note that you will be liable for the remaining rent due for the months left in your contract and you may also lose your deposit.
Notice for terminating the lease
Landlords and tenants must give their notice in writing. The notice must contain the pertinent dates and be signed.
Notice period from the tenant
The notice period that you, a tenant, must give depends on the length of your lease, as follows:
- 28 days if your tenancy is under 6 months
- 35 days if your tenancy is 6 months - 1 year
- 42 days if your tenancy is 1 - 2 years
- 56 days if your tenancy is 2 - 4 years
- 84 days if your tenancy is 4 - 8 years
- 112 days if your tenancy is over 8 years
Renters Insurance
- So now that you understand your rights when renting you can plan to move into your home. But remember, it’s important to ensure that you have taken out contents insurance to cover the valuables in your new home. Check out the next part of our renter’s guide to find out more about renters insurance.