When to register

When must a tenancy be registered?

You must register each tenancy: 

• When a new tenancy begins: register within one month of the tenancy start date. 

• Annually: register on the anniversary of the tenancy start date. 

• You must also update the tenancy registration when there is a change in rent or other tenancy details. For example, if some tenants change but at least one of the original tenants remain.  

If the property is sublet, the head-tenant must register the sub-tenancy with the RTB.   

You can find detailed instructions about how to register a new tenancy, register a student specific accommodation tenancy, complete your annual registration, or update a registration. 

The laws on annual registration changed on 4 April 2022. 

You can read more about the system of registration that was in place before this date in ‘The law covering registration’ below. 

Example 1: new tenancy

A tenancy starts on 15 May 2025. The landlord must register it by 14 June 2025 (within one month) to avoid late fees. If the tenancy continues, the landlord must register it again by 14 June 2026, and then by 14 June every year for as long as the tenancy lasts.

Example 2: existing tenancy

A tenancy started on 9 September 2018. The landlord must have registered it by 9 September 2022 (no later than 8 October 2022) to avoid late fees. If the tenancy continues, the landlord must register it again by 8 October every year for as long as the tenancy lasts.

Example 3: Further Part 4 tenancy

A tenancy started on 1 January 2016. On 1 January 2020, it became a Further Part 4 tenancy, which could last for 6 years. The landlord registered it on 15 January 2020.

Annual registration started on 4 April 2022. The landlord needed to register the tenancy again within one month of 1 January 2023 (within one month of the anniversary of the tenancy start date, which was by 31 January 2023).

If the tenancy continues, the landlord must register it again by 31 January every year for as long as the tenancy lasts.

There is a temporary fee waiver for Further Part 4 tenancies, if each annual registration is completed on time.

Registering a sub-tenancy

Subletting happens when a tenant (head-tenant) rents out the property to another person (sub-tenant) while still being responsible to the landlord. The head-tenant must register the sub-tenancy with the RTB.   

You must register a sub-tenancy using the RTB1 paper tenancy registration form. You cannot register a sub-tenancy through the RTB’s online tenancy registration system.   

I forget when my tenancy is due for annual registration

Check your registration account

You are responsible for making sure your tenancies are registered on time. You can check when your tenancy is due for annual registration on your registration account.

Follow these steps:

1. Log on to your registration account.
2. Go to the ‘Manage Registrations’ section of the homepage.
3. Use the filter to select ‘Pending Registration’. This will show you the tenancies that are due for annual registration.
4. Check the ‘Next Registration Due Date’ column for each tenancy.

Reminders

We will also remind you when your tenancy is due for annual registration, if your contact information is up to date on your registration  account.

We will send reminder letters by post or email depending on your preference.

• First reminder: 30 days before the registration due date.
• Second reminder: on the due date, with one more month to register to avoid paying late fees.
• Final reminder: 5 days before the deadline is due to expire.
• Late fee notice: after the deadline has passed and late fees apply.

Late registration

You can make your annual registration up to one calendar month after the due date. If you miss the registration deadline, late fees apply for each month the registration is late.