Private Rented Accommodation Sector
- Statistics
- Agencies
- Registration of Tenancies
- Other PRTB Services
- Housing Standards
- Fire Safety
- Other Safety Matters
- Rent Books
- Enforcement Statistics
- Rental Accommodation Scheme (See website)
- Leasing (See website)
Statistics
With almost 1.7 million housing units within the State the private rented sector comprises over 235,000 units or 14% of the total. The balance comprises owner occupier, 1,309,000, Local Authority, 107,000 and Voluntary Housing, 49,000.
Agencies
Control of the private rented accommodation sector is primarily the responsibility of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). It is the registration authority, the disputes and mediation service and has a rent levels monitoring and research role for the sector.
Housing Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of Housing Standards and Rent Book Regulations.
The Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive has a significant role in the sector as it provides €500 million annually to almost 94,000 tenants in the form of Rent Supplement Allowance. This is a state support to tenants to assist with the rent payable for their accommodation.
Registration of Tenancies
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 requires landlords in the private rented sector to register their tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). 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 a single composite fee of €300 may apply.
Each tenancy registration lasts for the duration of the tenancy (max. period 4 years), which is registered when a new tenancy commences. 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 the landlord and tenant(s).
Registration can be done by completion of a registration form or, more recently, online at www.prtb.ie
Other PRTB Services
The PRTB provides a disputes and mediation service for rent matters, over -holding etc. It researches market rent levels and other matters affecting the sector
Further Information and Downloads
Any queries regarding the above can 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
Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2008 and 2009
Housing Authorities are responsible for enforcing the legal requirements in relation to standards, under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2008 and 2009.
Landlords of rented accommodation, houses, apartments, flats, etc. have a statutory duty to ensure that their rented dwellings comply with certain minimum physical standards. Enforcement is carried out by systematic inspections of accommodation with notice being served on Landlords where breaches arise.
Where breaches occur the Community Welfare Service is also notified in order that Rent Supplement Allowance is not paid in respect of that property.
Landlords and tenants can download the attached County Council standards checklist and view the Regulations on the Irish Statute book website.
- Standard Checklists Download (Word Document, 190 KB)
Fire Safety
Fire safety is a crucial responsibility for landlords both in single unit household accommodation and multi unit dwellings.
Compliance with fire safety, i.e. provision of fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and smoke alarms are provided for within the Standards Regulations.
For multi unit dwellings more compliance is needed, such as emergency lighting, special smoke detection and alarms, hallway lighting, etc. Landlords must contact their local Fire Service for more information on this matter.
Other Safety Matters
Landlords must ensure the electrical fittings, oil burners, gas burners are safe to use. Annual maintenance of such appliances to ensure safety of use and proper ventilation etc. is required to ensure the safety of tenants.
Housing (Rent Book) Regulations
Landlords are obliged to provide a rent book to their tenants. Such information to be recorded is contact details of the landlord or agent, date of tenancy, PRTB reg. no., rent payable, rent paid, deposit paid, list of furniture and fittings. Information on the Rent Book Regulations can be made to the contact address below.
Contact Details
Private Rented Sector
Housing Section
Carricklawn
Newtown Road
Wexford
Tel. (053) 91 96472
Or email private.rentedsector@wexfordcoco.ie
Enforcement Statistics
For information on enforcement please see the Council’s Annual reports.
