Housing Rights
Tenant protections, eviction rules, rent pressure zones, deposit disputes, RTB registration, and housing assistance under Irish national law.
Tenant Rights and the RTB
If you rent a home in Ireland, you are protected by the Residential Tenancies Acts. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is the State body that regulates the private rental sector.Your landlord must...
Eviction and Notice Periods
Your landlord cannot evict you without following the legal process. A valid notice of termination must:Be in writingBe signed by the landlord (or their agent)State the date of service and the terminat...
Rent Increases and Rent Pressure Zones
Rent can only be increased in line with strict rules:Rent can only be reviewed once every 12 months (once every 24 months for new tenancies in Rent Pressure Zones — RPZs).In a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ)...
Deposit Protection
When you pay a security deposit to your landlord, you have specific rights:Your deposit is usually one month's rent — a landlord cannot require more than this in most cases.The deposit must be returne...
Minimum Housing Standards
Every rented property in Ireland must meet minimum standards set by regulation. Your landlord must ensure:Structural condition: The property must be sound, dry, and free from serious damp or mould.San...
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support that helps people who qualify for social housing to rent privately. Under HAP:Your local authority pays the landlord directly (up to a...
Homelessness and Emergency Accommodation
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, your local authority has a duty to provide assistance. Under the Housing Act 1988:A person is legally homeless if they have no accommodation they can re...
Anti-Discrimination in Housing
The Equal Status Acts prohibit discrimination in the provision of housing, accommodation, and related services on 10 grounds:GenderCivil statusFamily statusSexual orientationReligionAge (over 18)Disab...