RTB Tenancy Registration in Ireland
How to register a tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board, when it is due, what it costs, and the penalties for not registering. Written for landlords and letting agents under the rules in force in 2026.
Every private landlord in Ireland must register each tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) within one month of the tenancy starting, and then re-register every year on the anniversary of that start date. The standard fee is €40 per tenancy per year (€20 for Approved Housing Bodies). Registering late adds €10 per month, and not registering at all can lead to a criminal fine of up to €4,000 or a civil sanction of up to €15,000 per tenancy. There is no single national deadline: each tenancy has its own annual due date.
What RTB registration is
RTB registration is the legal record of a rented home. When you register a tenancy, the Residential Tenancies Board holds the address, the rent, the tenancy start date, and the details of the landlord and tenants. Registration is what gives both sides access to the RTB dispute resolution service, and the data feeds the public RTB Rent Register that landlords use to find comparable rents. Registration is the landlord's legal duty under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, though letting agents usually handle it on the landlord's behalf.
Almost all private rented homes must be registered, including cost rental tenancies and Student Specific Accommodation. Approved Housing Bodies register their tenancies too, at a lower fee.
Who has to register a tenancy
Any landlord letting a residential property to a private tenant must register that tenancy. This applies whether you own one property or many, and whether you manage it yourself or through an agent. Each separate tenancy is registered on its own, so a landlord with three let properties has three registrations to keep current. A licence arrangement, such as renting a room in your own home under rent-a-room, is not a tenancy and is not registered with the RTB.
When RTB registration is due
There are two deadlines to track, and they run off the tenancy start date, not a fixed date in the calendar:
- First registration: within one month of the tenancy start date.
- Annual re-registration: on each anniversary of the tenancy start date, for as long as the tenancy continues.
What RTB registration costs in 2026
The fee is charged per tenancy, per year. It is the same amount for a first registration and for each annual renewal, as long as you register on time.
| Tenancy type | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Private tenancy, cost rental, or Student Specific Accommodation | €40 |
| Approved Housing Body (AHB) tenancy | €20 |
What happens if you register late
A late registration carries a fee on top of the standard charge. It is applied for each month, or part of a month, that the registration is overdue, so it grows the longer you wait.
| Tenancy type | Late fee |
|---|---|
| Private tenancy, cost rental, or SSA | €10 per month |
| Approved Housing Body tenancy | €5 per month |
A part month counts as a full month, so registering even a few days late adds the first month's fee.
Penalties for not registering at all
Failing to register a tenancy is a separate and far more serious matter than paying a late fee. The RTB can pursue non-registration through either a criminal prosecution or a civil sanction:
| Route | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Criminal conviction | Fine up to €4,000, or up to 6 months in prison, plus €250 for each day the tenancy stays unregistered, plus the RTB's legal costs |
| Civil sanction | Up to €15,000, plus up to €15,000 in costs, for each unregistered tenancy |
Because these apply per tenancy, a landlord with several unregistered properties faces the penalty separately on each one.
How to register a tenancy, step by step
- Create or log in to your RTB account on the RTB online portal at rtb.ie. Registration is done online.
- Enter the tenancy details: the property address, the tenancy start date, the monthly rent, and the names and contact details of the landlord and every tenant.
- Add each additional tenancy separately if you have more than one property, so each carries its own annual due date.
- Pay the fee of €40 per tenancy (€20 for AHBs), within one month of the start date to avoid the late fee.
- Set a reminder for the anniversary so the annual renewal is not missed. This is where portfolio landlords most often slip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a tenancy with the RTB?
€40 per tenancy per year for a private, cost rental, or Student Specific Accommodation tenancy, and €20 per year for an Approved Housing Body tenancy. The same fee applies to a first registration and to each annual renewal when you register on time.
When do I have to register a new tenancy?
Within one month of the tenancy start date. After that you re-register every year on the anniversary of that start date. There is no single national deadline; each tenancy has its own annual due date.
Is there an annual RTB registration deadline?
Yes, but it is specific to each tenancy. The annual deadline is the anniversary of the tenancy start date, so a tenancy that began on 3 March is due each 3 March. Landlords with several tenancies have several different due dates.
What is the late fee for RTB registration?
€10 per month for a private, cost rental, or SSA tenancy, and €5 per month for an AHB tenancy, charged for each month or part of a month that the registration is late. Registering even a few days late adds the first month's fee.
What happens if I do not register a tenancy?
The RTB can prosecute non-registration. A criminal conviction carries a fine of up to €4,000, up to 6 months in prison, a further €250 for each day the tenancy stays unregistered, and the RTB's legal costs. Alternatively the RTB can apply a civil sanction of up to €15,000 plus up to €15,000 in costs, for each unregistered tenancy.
Who is responsible for registering, the landlord or the agent?
Registration is the landlord's legal duty. In practice, letting agents and property managers usually handle it on the landlord's behalf, but the legal responsibility, and the penalty for non-registration, rests with the landlord.
Do I have to register again every year?
Yes. Since annual registration was introduced, each tenancy must be re-registered every year on its start-date anniversary, for as long as it continues, not only once at the start.
Do I register a rent-a-room arrangement with the RTB?
No. Renting a room in your own home is a licence, not a tenancy, so it is outside the RTB registration system. Registration applies to self-contained private rented dwellings let under a tenancy.
This guide explains the RTB tenancy registration rules in force in 2026 for general information. Fees, deadlines, and penalties are taken from the RTB's published guidance. It is not legal advice. Confirm the current requirements and register directly at rtb.ie before relying on any figure here.
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