New Amendments to the Legislation on Free Mediations, Notices of Termination and Transfer of Rent Tribunal Functions Effective From 8th January 2016

New measures have been introduced under the Residential Tenancies Acts  New amendments to the legislation on Free Mediation, Slip or omission in Notice of Termination and the transfer of the Rent Tribunal functions to the PRTB has become effective from 8 January 2016. These include:

1.      Mediations are now Free

2.      Slip or omission in Notice of Termination

3.      Transfer of the Rent Tribunal functions to the PRTB

Free Mediation:

The new measures provide that there is no fee for parties who submit a dispute application to the PRTB and choose to have it resolved by mediation. The fee for Adjudication is €25 for a paper application and €15 for online.

Mediation saves time and money for landlords and tenants alike. It is respectful, non-adversarial and highly successful in achieving mutually agreeable resolutions to disputes. The introduction of these provisions builds on the rent stability measures already introduced by Minister Alan Kelly in December 2015, by giving tenants free access to a key dispute resolution process. The mediation process provides parties in dispute the opportunity to avail of the assistance of a trained mediator who assists both parties in reaching an agreement without the need for the parties to attend a hearing or engage directly with each other. Mediation is fast, convenient and the terms of the agreements are legally binding and enforceable. The PRTB also offers a telephone mediation service as a convenient way to address disputes quickly and effectively.

In the event of a Dispute you may take a case to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

For more information, visit the website, www.prtb.ie or telephone 0818 30 30 37.

 

A guide to the Residential Tenancies Act is set out in our “Good Landlord Guide, Good Tenant Guide” leaflet, available on our website www.prtb.ie  

 

Slip or Omission in Notice of Termination:

The Principal Act is amended in relation to the hearing of a complaint under Part 6 in respect of a notice of termination served after 8 January 2016. An adjudicator or the Tribunal, as the case may be, may make a determination that a slip or omission which is contained in, or occurred during the service of, the notice of termination shall not of itself render the notice of termination invalid, if he or she or it, as the case may be, is satisfied that—

(a) the slip or omission concerned does not prejudice, in a material respect, the notice of termination, and

(b) the notice of termination is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Act.

Transfer of the Rent Tribunal functions to the PRTB:

 

The functions of the Rent Tribunal have been transfer the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

Please find below link to Department of Environment, Community and Local Government press release re Free Mediations:

http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/PrivateRentedHousing/News/MainBody,44084,en.htm