Residential Tenancies Board

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Questions (1066)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1066. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1190 of 3 June 2020, if the role of the Residential Tenancies Board includes ensuring that landlords and so on abide by the temporary measures of the emergency legislation such as the temporary ban on all evictions even in situations in which the tenancy would not be covered by the 2004 Act; and if the RTB is obliged to have cognisance of the provisions and consequences of the emergency legislation. [10885/20]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Section 3 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2019 provides that those Acts apply to every dwelling the subject of a tenancy, subject to certain exemptions which include situations where the landlord also resides in the building or part of the building concerned. Section 37 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 extends the application of the Residential Tenancies Acts, with necessary modification, to certain licences in student-specific accommodation.

Part 2 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 in respect of the emergency period for all stakeholders including the RTB, tenants and landlords. The 2020 Act does not alter or amend the functions of the RTB under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2019.