{"id":667,"date":"2025-04-29T11:06:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T11:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/?page_id=667"},"modified":"2025-07-04T13:33:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T13:33:31","slug":"decisions-and-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/how-investigations-work\/decisions-and-sanctions\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinnt\u00ed agus smachtbhanna\u00ed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-notice no-print\">\n        <div class=\"inner container\">\n            <p><strong>Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n ar f\u00e1il go luath<\/strong><\/p>\n            <p>\u00c1r leithsc\u00e9al as an m\u00edchaoithi\u00falacht. Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n Gaeilge ar an leathanach seo ar f\u00e1il go luath. Go raibh maith agat as do chuid foighneachta agus muid ag obair ar leagan uasd\u00e1taithe.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div><section id=\"block-block_239ea290dbe1d97e0a772ffea14a3aff\" class=\"header-block rtb-block colour-teal margin-top-none margin-bottom-default\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"breadcrumb\">\n    <span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Bord um Tion\u00f3ntachta\u00ed C\u00f3naithe.\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\" class=\"home\" aria-current=\"page\"><span property=\"name\"><i class=\"rtb-home-icon\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span><i class=\"rtb-chevron\"><\/i><\/nav>\n        \n        <div class=\"wrapper\">\n            <div class=\"content\">\n                            \n                <h1 class=\"heading-xl\">Cinnt\u00ed agus smachtbhanna\u00ed<\/h1>\n                                            <\/div>\n            <!-- Temporary image: Remove after migrating illustrations to the illustration_selection field -->\n                            <div class=\"illustration fade-up\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/header-illustration-2.svg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" \/>                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"block-block_adc393ee099cc273a59c5bd694da6d1a\" class=\"navigation-block container rtb-block margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n    <div class=\"content\">\n        <header>\n                            <h2 class=\"heading-s\">On this page<\/h2>                        <i class=\"rtb-arrow down\"><\/i>\n        <\/header>\n                    <nav class=\"navigation\">            \n                                    <ul>\n                                                                                    <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#oral\" target=\"\">Oral hearing by a Decision Maker<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#decision\" target=\"\">Sanction decision<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#appeal\" target=\"\">Appealing a decision<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                                                                <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#circuit\" target=\"\">Circuit Court confirmation of sanctions<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                        <\/ul>\n                                    <ul>\n                                                                                    <li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"#publication\" target=\"\">Publication of sanctions<\/a><\/li>\n                                                                        <\/ul>\n                            <\/nav>\n            <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"block-block_419b6bc49ff808d248e6c3713289a95d\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) appoints an independent Decision Maker for <a href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/how-investigations-work\/investigation-process\/\">each investigation case.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Decision Maker is an independent panel member who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reviews the Authorised Officer&#8217;s Investigation Report and any acknowledgments or submissions from the landlord and complainant.<\/li>\n<li>Decides whether to impose a sanction and the nature of any sanction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Decision makers are legal professionals with extensive experience in decision making roles.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<aside class=\"related-content\" data-js=\"related-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"\">Related content<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/how-investigations-work\/investigation-process\/\" target=\"\">Investigation process<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/how-investigations-work\/acknowledging-improper-conduct\/\" target=\"\">Acknowledging improper conduct<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/what-can-the-rtb-investigate\/\" target=\"\">What can the RTB investigate<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a class=\"text-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/investigation-outcomes\/\" target=\"\">Investigation outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"oral\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Oral hearing by a Decision Maker<\/h2>\n<p>When necessary, the Decision Maker can conduct a private oral hearing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Any relevant person can be called to attend (the landlord, complainant or another interested party).<\/li>\n<li>Evidence may be taken under oath.<\/li>\n<li>The landlord is entitled to bring a representative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"decision\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Sanction decision<\/h2>\n<p>The Decision Maker applies a balanced approach when deciding on sanctions. The following factors are considered:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Acknowledgment of improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>The seriousness of the improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>Any explanation given.<\/li>\n<li>Actions taken to stop the improper conduct and address its consequences.<\/li>\n<li>If the improper conduct continued after notification of the investigation.<\/li>\n<li>The duration of the improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>The level of cooperation shown during the investigation.<\/li>\n<li>Any financial gain made because of the improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>Any loss or costs caused due to the improper conduct, and any steps taken to fix these.<\/li>\n<li>Any reoccurrence of improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>Any previous sanctions for similar improper conduct.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Possible sanctions<\/h3>\n<p>Sanctions can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A written caution.<\/li>\n<li>A fine of up to \u20ac15,000 for each separate improper conduct.<\/li>\n<li>Repaying RTB&#8217;s investigation costs up to \u20ac15,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once a decision is made, a Decision Notice is issued to the landlord and any complainant.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"appeal\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Appealing a decision<\/h2>\n<p>If you disagree with the sanction, you can appeal to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.ie\/circuit-court\">Circuit Court<\/a> within <strong>21 days<\/strong> of receiving the Decision Notice from the RTB.<\/p>\n<p>There is no appeal process within the RTB.<\/p>\n<h3>Submitting your appeal to the Circuit Court<\/h3>\n<p>Submit an appeal to the Circuit Court in the area where you live or where you carry out your business, trade, or profession.<\/p>\n<p>For details on the relevant Circuit Court and its contact information, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.ie\/content\/find-us\">Circuit Court website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Each Circuit Court has a slightly different process, so you should contact them or your own legal advisors for information on submitting an appeal.<\/p>\n<p>To submit an appeal, you can use the general appeal form (Form 50B) available on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.courts.ie\/content\/notice-appeal\">Courts Service website<\/a>.\u00a0 The form must be accompanied by a Grounding Affidavit.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"circuit\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Circuit Court confirmation of sanctions<\/h2>\n<p>All sanctions must be confirmed by the Circuit Court. If no appeal is lodged within <strong>21 days<\/strong>, the RTB applies to the Circuit Court for confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>A sanction does not take effect until confirmed by the Circuit Court.<\/p>\n<p>Any fines go to the government (<i>the Exchequer<\/i>), not the person who made the complaint.<\/p>\n<p>Either the RTB or the landlord can appeal the Circuit Court&#8217;s decision to the High Court on a point of law.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"publication\" class=\"header-paragraph-block rtb-block  margin-top-xs margin-bottom-xs\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<article class=\"cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Publication of sanctions<\/h2>\n<p>Once confirmed by the Circuit Court, the RTB publishes <a href=\"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/compliance\/investigation-outcomes\/search-investigation-court-orders\/\">details of the sanctions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":913,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-667","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-25 16:06:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=667"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51519,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/667\/revisions\/51519"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rtb.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}