RTB Rent Register

How to use the RTB Rent Register

A landlord must use information from the RTB Rent Register when setting or reviewing rent. They must provide three examples from the register of the most recent rents paid for similar properties in a comparable area in the rent setting or review notice. 

Step 1: Define your search area 

The RTB Rent Register provides results by Local Electoral Area (LEA). You can select the LEA automatically using your Eircode, or you can manually select the LEA. 

•  Enter an address or Eircode to identify the LEA where the property is located. 
• Select the property address from the drop-down menu to automatically get results for your matched LEA.  
• To search for results from a different but comparable LEA, select ‘Search by Local Authority’ from the bottom of the drop-down menu. When you continue to Step 2, you will then select the local authority and LEA you want to search.

Step 2: Find comparable examples 

• Enter the details for the property you are setting rent for. This should include: 
  • Dwelling type 
  • Number of bedrooms 
  • Floor area 
  • Building Energy Rating (BER)
• You will see results that are sorted based on how closely they match the property details. The register does not provide results based on geographic proximity to the tenancy address. Read more about how the results are selected. 
• Select three comparable examples. They do not have to be the first three results. Add the registered tenancy (RT) number and rent paid for each example to your rent setting or rent review notice. 
• Download a printout of the RTB Rent Register results. 
• If you cannot find comparable examples, please read the guidance at the bottom of the page. 

How are the register results selected?

• The Register only returns results from the Local Electoral Area that you select. You can select the LEA automatically using your Eircode, or you can manually select the LEA. 
• It will return 30 results for your search. 
• The results are sorted by the strongest match across the combined tenancy details entered. 
• What is considered a strong match? 
  • For dwelling type, it will show just houses or apartments depending on your search. 
  • For floor area, a strong match is any floor area within 10% of the value you entered. 
  • For number of bedrooms, it must be the same number. 
  • For BER, a strong match is a BER rating within the same band. 
• If there are not enough strong matches, the Register will provide examples that are a weaker match. This includes: 
  • Other BER bands. 
  • Floor areas that are more than 10% above or below the value you entered.  
  • Examples where the number of bedrooms is 1 higher or lower than the value you entered. 
• The results are sorted by strongest match based on dwelling type, floor area, bedrooms and BER only.  
• The results include additional columns with information to help users identify the most relevant examples. These columns do not influence the search results: 
  • Tenancy start date 
  • Registration type (new tenancy or annual registration) 
  • ED name to show the Electoral District within the LEA where the property is located. 
• The register does not provide results based on closest geographical location.  
• The register includes all new and annual registrations received by the RTB in the last 24 months. 

Can I use other sources for comparable rents?

The RTB Rent Register should be a landlord’s main reference point when setting rent. If a landlord wants to set a rent higher than comparable examples from the Register, they must justify that it represents market rent. To do this, they should provide additional evidence, such as expert valuations.

While a landlord can reference additional sources, they are legally obliged to consider the RTB Rent Register and this should carry significant weight in their decision.

A landlord must keep clear records to support their rent setting decision. They may need to provide the documents as evidence if there is a dispute case or investigation by the RTB in future. Failure to follow rent setting rules is an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Landlords remain legally responsible for ensuring that their chosen examples are genuinely comparable to their own tenancy.