Threshold- Own Your Rights

Hi! I’m Iris, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer a question from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-size pieces to empower you. A question I’m frequently asked is…. 

Question: My contract says I am a “licensee”. Is that different from a “tenant”?  

A licensee and tenant are different. A tenant is protected by the Residential Tenancies Act, however a licensee does not have the same security as a tenant, as these types of arrangements are not covered under the legislation.   

However, if your contract refers to you as a licensee, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are a licensee.  There are many factors to be considered to determine this such as how the tenancy began, who lives in the property and your right to exclusive occupation.   

A typical example of a licensee is if your landlord lives in the property with you or if you rent a property directly from a head tenant.   

If you are unsure if you are a tenant or licensee, you can contact an advisor who can review your circumstances. Information that would be helpful to determine whether you are a licensee or a tenant include, how your tenancy started, who lives in the property, a copy of your lease and layout of your property.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through phone, email, or by visiting us at one of our nation-wide Outreach Clinics. You can check out our website to see all the ways you can speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie/ 

Hi! I’m Iris, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer question from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-size pieces to empower you. A question I’m frequently asked is…. 

Question: My tenancy started after the 1st of March 2026; can the landlord ask me to leave? 

If your tenancy started after the 1st of March 2026, a landlord could serve you a notice of termination in the first 6 months for any reason. However, after a duration of 6 months, you have a tenancy of minimum duration for an additional five and half years.  At this point, a landlord can only end a tenancy for specific reasons which depend on how the tenancy began and how many tenancies the landlord has.  

If a landlord is considered a large landlord with 4 or more tenancies, there are limited reasons they can use to end your tenancy.  

A smaller landlord with 1-3 tenancies, does have additional reasons they can end a tenancy during and at the end of the 6-year cycle.  

Remember, your tenancy could be at risk regardless of your landlord size if there is a tenant breach of obligations within the duration of your tenancy or if the property is no longer suitable for your needs.  

Information an advisor would need to give more bespoke advice would include: when and how your tenancy was created and a copy of the notice of termination you received.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through phone, email, or by visiting us at one of our nation-wide Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie/

Hi! I’m Iris, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer question from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-size pieces to empower you. A question I’m frequently asked is…. 

Question: I’ve moved into a new property, and I think the rent has been increased more than it should be, what can I do?  

At the beginning of a tenancy the landlord should issue you a rent setting notice. A rent setting notice includes information like the last rent amount; the date the rent was last set and details of how your rent was set in line with the national rent control rules.  

The landlord must also serve this notice to the Residential Tenancies Board within one month of the tenancy start date.  

Queries regarding potential invalid rent increases can be disputed via the RTB dispute’s process or reported to the RTB’s Investigations and Sanctions Unit.   

If you are concerned that the rent setting is not in line with the national rent control rules, you can contact an advisor who can review your circumstances and talk you through the next steps.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through phone, email, or by visiting us at one of our nation-wide Outreach Clinics. You can also check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie/

The recent changes to legislation have outlined criteria for garden homes which helps determine if you are a licensee or a tenant. If the garden housing unit was in place before 27th July, the landlord must register the tenancy with the RTB if the unit is a self-contained with a separate entrance to the main house. This indicates that you do have rights as a tenant. Remember, this is for units placed before 27th of July 2026 regardless of if they are rented out before or after this date.  

Where the garden home unit is placed after the 27th of July 2026, the landlord needs to seek a planning exemption from their local authority in order to be exempt from registration. If a landlord completes this, you may be a licensee.  

Information an advisor would need to give more bespoke advice: When your tenancy began and when the garden home was in place. 

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through phone, email, or by visiting us at one of our nation-wide Outreach Clinics. You can check out our website to see all the ways you can speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie/ 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie 

Hi! I’m Megan, a Threshold Advisor. Each day I answer questions from renters like you. We at Threshold want to make sure you know your rights and own your rights, so we have put together some bite-sized pieces of information to empower you.  

As with any question that comes to Threshold, my answer can be quite dependent on the circumstances. If you would like more advice for your unique renting situation, the other advisors and I are here to help! 

You can get in touch with us through email, phone, by visiting us at one of our Outreach Clinics. Check out our website to see all the ways to speak with an advisor at www.threshold.ie