The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (the Acts) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the residential rental sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. Dwellings covered by the Acts include the private rental sector, the cost rental sector, the approved housing body sector and student accommodation (including tenancies and licences in student specific accommodation).
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 provides for relevant rights and obligations to apply to tenancy and licence agreements in student-specific accommodation, provided by public educational institutions and private accommodation providers.
Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Acts provides that a landlord of a dwelling shall not penalise a tenant for referring any dispute between the tenant and the landlord to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for resolution or for giving evidence in any proceedings under Part 6 (Dispute Resolution) of the Acts. This equally applies in respect of licence agreements in student specific accommodation. This protection also applies to a person who ceases to be a tenant/licensee by reason of the termination of the tenancy/licence.
I have no function or remit in the operational matters of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) which is an independent quasi-judicial body with responsibility for rental contracts. I would advise any student with specific concerns or issues in relation to this to contact the RTB directly in the first instance.
