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Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, today announced (03 May 2016) the commencement of a number of further provisions in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015.

The new provisions include-
A requirement that a notice of new rent, sent from a landlord to a tenant, must include details of the dispute resolution procedures available in the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and be accompanied by details of the rent in respect of 3 comparable dwellings;
Stronger verification arrangements in relation to the termination of a tenancy, including statutory declarations where a landlord wishes to sell the dwelling or requires it for themselves or a family member;
A requirement that confirmation of a tenancy registration, which is currently sent to the landlord, must also be sent to the tenant, together with information setting out landlord and tenant rights and obligations.

While the RTB currently sends confirmation of a tenancy registration to the landlord, in future, both landlords and tenants will be notified of tenancy registration and the notice will advise both parties of their rights and obligations in relation to the setting and review of rent, security of tenure, the termination of tenancies, and the dispute resolution procedures that are available through the RTB. The confirmation form will also state that the RTB may disclose information to the Revenue Commissioners.

The provisions commenced today build on a number of measures already introduced by Minister Kelly under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, including a series of major reforms providing rent certainty and additional safeguards for both tenants and landlords. These include increasing the rent review period from one year to two years, increased notice periods for rent reviews and greater notice periods for tenants in relation to the termination of tenancies.

Minister Kelly said that “the provisions around tenancy terminations and notice of new rent are a central plank of the Government’s rent certainty package and provide an important further protection for tenants under the Residential Tenancies Acts. The new requirements will guard against, for example, landlords falsely declaring that the property is needed for a family member, or that it is going to be sold, and ensure that there is a proper and binding notification process in place for all proposed rent changes. The new measures will also ensure that all parties are aware of their rights and the consequences of any infringement of those rights. This will assist in protecting tenants from illegal rent increases and will act to discourage landlords from breaking the law.”

The new provisions will come into effect on 9 May.

Ends