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New annual registration measure for landlords

Landlords are now required to register their tenancies with the Residential Tenancies Board every year, after the Minister for Housing signed a number of statutory instruments to bring the measure into effect.

Landlords must register within one month of the start of the tenancy, or within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began.

The orders signed by minister Darragh O’Brien (pictured) mean that the requirement came into effect on 4 April.

‘More effective’

The minister described the introduction of annual registration as important in helping the RTB to monitor and regulate the sector.

“In comparison to the current system of registration, annual registration of tenancies (and licences in student-specific accommodation) by landlords with the RTB is a simpler and more effective registration model for the rental sector,” he stated.

The minister added that up-to-date registration data would also help Government to better understand the rental sector, and inform decision-making on policy.

Fees cut

Registration fees have been reduced to take account of the new annual requirement.

There will also be a transition period for any new tenancy beginning between 4 April and 3 July 2022, or any tenancy with the anniversary of its start date falling during that period. The registration deadline for those tenancies is midnight, 3 August 2022.

The statutory instruments signed by the minister were the:

• Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2022,
• Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2022, and
• Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2022.