The Private Residential Tenancies Board
(PRTB) is a statutory, self -financing body
responsible for :
 maintaining a national register for all
private residential tenancies;
 providing a dispute resolution service; and
 the provision of information; carrying out
of research & the provision of policy advice
to the Minister regarding the private rented
sector
o
The sector has doubled in size between
Census 2006 and 2011, with one in five
households now living there (eg Local
Authorities housed 9% of Irish Households)
o
Over 100,000 socially supported Tenants
live in the PRS
o
Social Housing Strategy: 35,000 units by LAs
and 75,000 leveraged from the Private
Rented Sector.
RED C Survey in 2014
o
o
66% of Tenants had been renting for 4+
years
32% Rent pending Mortgage Approval (pre
Central Bank changes in Deposits)
o
o
30% because it suited their requirements
Only 64% awareness of the PRTB / their
rights, thus advertising and awareness
campaign launched
o
303,574 Tenancies Registered
o
86% of Landlords own one or two properties
o
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Over 33,000 Buy to Let properties in serious
mortgage arrears (C.B. report)
29% of Landlord intend to sell as soon as
possible, as prices increase
36% of Landlords are “accidential”, (19% both
a Tenant / Landlord)
o
3,374 formal Disputes in 2014, relating to
6,071 separate breaches of the Act, including
o Rent Arrears (including overholding) - 1,134 cases
o Invalid Notices of Termination - 830
o Deposit Retention - 801
o Standard and maintenance of dwelling – 433
o Unlawful Termination – 263
o Anti-Social Behaviour - 215
o Rent More than Market Rate – 185
o
447 Appeals to Tribunal in 2014
o
o
Rent Arrears – a growing problem
Rent increases in Dublin and now also strong
in the surrounding counties
o
Security of Tenure
o
Receivership
o
Deposits
% of Applications
closed / processed
Timelines
33%
17%
30%
10%
10%
1-2 months
4 months
5-6 months
7 months
8-10
months
o
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o
o
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29,256 unregistered Landlords detected
and notified
17 Criminal Prosecutions taken
535 Request for DO Enforcement
96,001 calls, 42,355 E Mails and 4,707
letters ( call centre is now outsourced)
Quarterly Rent Index with ESRI
Two major pieces of research last year
o
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o
Report stressed need to increase supply of Rental
Accommodation to meet strong growth in demand
Did not recommend rent control – supply impacts
“Rent Certainty” leases, longer tenure, linked to CPI
but with tax incentives for landlords
Three month notice of rent increases, three
comparable properties to justify, refer to PRTB Rent
Index
Review Rent Supplement, extend Tenancy
Sustainment Protocol.
o
Tax Incentives for HAP participation
o
Extend security of Tenure for Further Part 4
o
Increase Notice periods pro-rata for longer Tenancies
o
PRTB timeline to be improved, resources &
Determination Orders enforcement
o
Extend the Home Renovation Scheme
o
Minimum Standards “NCT” for all rented properties
o
Code of Conduct for Buy to Let properties in
receivership
o
Living City initiative – better use of empty buildings
o
Professionalise the sector eg CPD for Agents
o
Importance of the Approved Housing Bodies
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Deposit Protection Scheme
Free Mediation Service
New sliding scales for Registration fees
Free Further Part 4 registrations
Board Policy and operational functions split
Approved Housing Bodies under the remit of
the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
Rumours in media of other possible changes,
but Bill not yet published.