Paying for your accommodation
Make sure you understand the lease before you sign it!
Contract with property owner
The money you pay to use a property is called rent. The amount you pay the property owner is agreed before you move in and you pay the money to them or their agent in the way that you have agreed. This may be in cash or through your bank.
You may be asked to sign a lease or contract. it will state: how much the rent is and when you have to pay it;
You should make sure to study the lease and that you are happy with the conditions of the lease before you sign it. A lease is for a particular time period (for example six months). You may have to pay the remainder of the lease if you stop living in the property before the lease time is up. If you sign a lease with others, you become responsible for each other’s rent. If you don’t understand the terms of the lease, contact the independent agency, Threshold, for free advice before signing.
You can access Threshold on www.threshold.ie TEL: (01) 678 6094 or email your question to: [email protected]
References
Some property owners may ask for references from your former landlords or landladies to show you have been a good tenant in the past. If you are new in Ireland, a reference from your employer or doctor may satisfy the property owner or manager.
‘Landlords and landladies’
The owner or manager of the property you rent may be a man or a woman. They are often called a landlord or landlady. Sometimes they appoint a ‘property manager’ to manage renting out their property.
Paying your rent
The monthly rent you pay is for a full calendar month. A month varies from 28 days to 31 days. You must pay the full month’s rent 12 times a year, no matter how many days there are in the month. If you pay your rent weekly it is good practice to pay it on the same day of the week for all 52 weeks of the year.
Deposit
Most property owners or managers ask for a deposit (usually one month’s rent) as well as one month’s rent in advance. Before paying the deposit, if you are receiving any Social Welfare payment, contact the Community Welfare Officer who may help with paying part or all of a deposit. It is important to do this before you pay any money because you will not get a refund if you have already paid the deposit. You must also have had your housing needs assessed by the Local Housing Authority and have been put on a list for Council housing. Make sure you get a receipt for any deposit you pay.
Rights and responsibilities
The property owner
Rent
The tenant
Rent
Other tenants
Length of Stay
Peace and quiet
Standards
If you think your accommodation is below standard and your property owner disagrees with you, you can ask the local authority to make the property owner comply with the legal standards for rented accommodation.
Maintenance
Who must maintain rented housing?
Both the property owner and the tenant must take care of the rented property
If you are renting, the property owner is responsible for:
If these repairs are carried out by the tenant the property owner must repay the tenant.
The cleanliness of the house is the tenant’s responsibility. You must remove rubbish and put it into the bin for regular collection. A refuse collection company must remove your refuse. If you wish to make changes to the interior or garden area of the accommodation, you must ask the property owner for permission. Again the property owner must repay you if they give you permission.
Disputes
The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) resolves disputes between property owners and tenants. You can contact them at: Private Residential Tenancies Board,
O’Connell Bridge House,
D’Olier Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: (01) 635 0600;
email, [email protected];
website, www.prtb.ie
Make sure you understand the lease before you sign it!
Contract with property owner
The money you pay to use a property is called rent. The amount you pay the property owner is agreed before you move in and you pay the money to them or their agent in the way that you have agreed. This may be in cash or through your bank.
You may be asked to sign a lease or contract. it will state: how much the rent is and when you have to pay it;
- how much the rent is and when you have to pay it;
- other conditions attached to renting the accommodation;
- your obligations as a tenant; and
- the property owner’s obligation to you.
You should make sure to study the lease and that you are happy with the conditions of the lease before you sign it. A lease is for a particular time period (for example six months). You may have to pay the remainder of the lease if you stop living in the property before the lease time is up. If you sign a lease with others, you become responsible for each other’s rent. If you don’t understand the terms of the lease, contact the independent agency, Threshold, for free advice before signing.
You can access Threshold on www.threshold.ie TEL: (01) 678 6094 or email your question to: [email protected]
References
Some property owners may ask for references from your former landlords or landladies to show you have been a good tenant in the past. If you are new in Ireland, a reference from your employer or doctor may satisfy the property owner or manager.
‘Landlords and landladies’
The owner or manager of the property you rent may be a man or a woman. They are often called a landlord or landlady. Sometimes they appoint a ‘property manager’ to manage renting out their property.
Paying your rent
The monthly rent you pay is for a full calendar month. A month varies from 28 days to 31 days. You must pay the full month’s rent 12 times a year, no matter how many days there are in the month. If you pay your rent weekly it is good practice to pay it on the same day of the week for all 52 weeks of the year.
Deposit
Most property owners or managers ask for a deposit (usually one month’s rent) as well as one month’s rent in advance. Before paying the deposit, if you are receiving any Social Welfare payment, contact the Community Welfare Officer who may help with paying part or all of a deposit. It is important to do this before you pay any money because you will not get a refund if you have already paid the deposit. You must also have had your housing needs assessed by the Local Housing Authority and have been put on a list for Council housing. Make sure you get a receipt for any deposit you pay.
Rights and responsibilities
The property owner
Rent
- The property owner sets the rent (it cannot be more than the current market rate).
- The property owner reviews the rent once a year – if they decide to increase the rent they must give you 28 days’ notice.
- The property owner must provide details of their tenancies to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
- The property owner must provide details of their tenancies to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
The tenant
Rent
- You must pay the rent on the day it is due.
- You are entitled to a rent book.
Other tenants
- You must tell the property owner or manager who is living in the accommodation.
- You are entitled to have friends over for a short period of time unless otherwise stated in your tenancy agreement.
Length of Stay
- Your property owner cannot ask you to leave during the period of your lease, unless you have broken the terms of the agreement.
- Your property owner must give you four weeks’ notice in writing if they want you to leave the property.
Peace and quiet
- You are entitled to a private and quiet enjoyment of your home.
Standards
If you think your accommodation is below standard and your property owner disagrees with you, you can ask the local authority to make the property owner comply with the legal standards for rented accommodation.
Maintenance
Who must maintain rented housing?
Both the property owner and the tenant must take care of the rented property
If you are renting, the property owner is responsible for:
- repairing and maintaining the interior of the property; and
- making sure the house is safe, in good repair and essentially sound.
If these repairs are carried out by the tenant the property owner must repay the tenant.
The cleanliness of the house is the tenant’s responsibility. You must remove rubbish and put it into the bin for regular collection. A refuse collection company must remove your refuse. If you wish to make changes to the interior or garden area of the accommodation, you must ask the property owner for permission. Again the property owner must repay you if they give you permission.
Disputes
The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) resolves disputes between property owners and tenants. You can contact them at: Private Residential Tenancies Board,
O’Connell Bridge House,
D’Olier Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: (01) 635 0600;
email, [email protected];
website, www.prtb.ie