The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has launched a new campaign in partnership with seven local authorities to ensure landlords register their tenancies as required by law. The campaign targets counties Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Louth, Monaghan and Tipperary. Research by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) identified higher levels of potentially unregistered tenancies in these counties last year.
The seven participating local authorities will work closely with the RTB to increase landlord awareness of the need to register tenancies annually. Advertising on local radio, in local papers, on social media and posters in public buildings across each county will remind landlords that they must register their tenancies annually. The campaign will also highlight the serious consequences of failure to register. These can include a civil sanction of up to €15,000 or a criminal prosecution and/or a fine of up to €4,000.
In addition to public information activities, the new drive also aims to increase data sharing and referrals of unregistered tenancies by local authority housing teams to the RTB.
Speaking on the campaign, Rosemary Steen, Director of the RTB said:
“Ensuring that every tenancy that should be registered is registered is a key priority for the Residential Tenancies Board. I would like to thank our partners in the seven participating local authorities for working with us to drive our message that landlords must register their tenancies or face prosecution.