Ireland

Is my landlord required to register the tenancy with the RTB?

1 month
Registration deadline
€3,000
Max fine for non-compliance
2004
Governing Act year
RTB
Responsible body
The Short Answer

Yes, your landlord is legally required to register your tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) within 1 month of the tenancy start date.

What the Law Says

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 places a clear legal duty on landlords to register tenancies with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). This applies to almost all private residential tenancies in Ireland.

Under Section 134 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, a landlord must register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of the commencement of the tenancy. This requirement applies unless the tenancy falls under a specific exemption — such as certain family arrangements, local authority tenancies, or tenancies in hotels or hostels.

Failure to register is an offence. The law states that a landlord who does not comply may be liable on summary conviction to a class A fine — currently up to €3,000 — and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months. Each day the failure continues after conviction may constitute a separate offence.

The RTB maintains a public register of tenancies, which helps protect tenants’ rights and supports enforcement of rental standards.

Statutory Text

A landlord shall, within one month of the commencement of a tenancy, register the tenancy with the Board.

— Residential Tenancies Act 2004, s. 134 — Registration of tenancies

What to Do

1

Check if your tenancy is registered: visit rtb.ie and use the 'Check a registration' tool.

2

If unregistered, ask your landlord to register immediately — they can do so online at rtb.ie.

3

If your landlord refuses or delays, you may report the non-compliance to the RTB via their online complaint form.

4

Keep records of your tenancy agreement, rent receipts, and any communication about registration.

Sources

statuteResidential Tenancies Act 2004, s. 134 — Registration of tenancies

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.