Tenant Advice
If you are having difficulties with your landlord please contact us for advice.
It is important for all students looking for accommodation to be aware of their rights and responsibilities as tenants. Below you will find some key facts you should be aware of when renting for the first time. Please note that these points do not apply to owner occupier rentals.
Key points
- You and your neighbours are entitled to quiet and exclusive enjoyment of your homes. If noise from other tenants or neighbours is disturbing you, ask them to stop and also inform your landlord. If this does not work, you can make a formal complaint through UCC Campus Watch if they are students.
- You are entitled to certain minimum standards of accommodation.
- Once your rent has been set, your landlord cannot increase it for one year.
- You are entitled to a rent book and receipts of payment.
- You have the right to contact the landlord or their agent at any reasonable times. You are also entitled to have appropriate contact information (telephone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses, etc.).
- Your landlord is only allowed to enter your home with your permission. If the landlord needs to carry out repairs or inspect the premises, it should be by prior arrangement, except in an emergency.
- You are entitled to reimbursement for any repairs that you carry out that are the landlord's responsibility.
- You are entitled to have visitors to stay overnight or for short periods, unless specifically forbidden in your tenancy agreement. You must tell your landlord if you have an extra person moving in to the property.
- Both you and your landlord are entitled to a certain amount of notice should either party decide to end the tenancy. Notice periods can be found below.
- You are entitled to refer any disputes to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) without being penalised for doing so.
- Landlords are obliged to register all tenancies with the RTB. You will be notified by the RTB via post once this has been done.
- All homes for rent must have a Building Energy Rating (BER), stating how energy-efficient the home is. This will help you to make an informed choice when comparing properties to rent.
You can get further information on your tenant rights using the following resources.
Ending a tenancy
When it’s time to move out of your accommodation, it’s important to follow the correct process. This will help protect your rights, avoid disputes, and ensure you get your deposit back. The steps you take will depend on whether you live in Student Specific Accommodation (SSA), Private Fixed-Term Accommodation, or Owner-Occupied (Digs).
Student Specific Accommodation (SSA)
In Ireland, student tenancies in SSA are covered by specific rules under the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Notice Period:
- You must give at least 28 days’ written notice.
- The notice must be signed, dated, and include both the date you send it and the date you plan to leave.
- If leaving due to a landlord’s breach, you must state the reason in your notice.
Fixed-Term Tenancies in SSA:
- Between 1 May and 1 October: You can end a fixed-term tenancy for any reason.
- Outside this period: You can only end the tenancy for a valid legal reason (e.g., landlord breach).
41-Week Rule:
- SSA tenancies and licence agreements created after 20 July 2024 cannot exceed 41 weeks unless you specifically request a longer stay.
After 1 October:
If you choose to leave early, you may be required to help find a replacement tenant (backfilling).
Useful links:
Private Fixed-Term Accommodation
If you rent privately (non-student specific), the rules are different.
Ending Early
You cannot normally end a fixed-term tenancy early unless your landlord agrees in writing or you have a valid legal reason (e.g., landlord breach).
Landlord Ending Tenancy
- A landlord can only end a tenancy for specific legal grounds under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, such as selling the property, moving in themselves, or tenant breach.
- They must give the correct notice period and follow RTB requirements.
Part 4 Rights:
- After 6 months in a property, most tenants gain security of tenure, meaning they can only be asked to leave for certain legal reasons.
Notice Requirements
- All notices must be in writing, signed, dated, and include the termination date (and reason, if required).
- Using official RTB templates ensures your notice is valid.
Useful links:
Owner-Occupied (Digs)
If you live in owner-occupied accommodation (also known as “digs”), your arrangement is usually a licence agreement, not a tenancy. This means RTB rules on notice periods and deposits do not normally apply.
- The notice period and conditions for leaving should be set out in your written agreement with the homeowner.
- Always give as much notice as possible, at least two to four weeks is recommended, unless your agreement states otherwise.
- Return the room in good condition, settle any outstanding bills, and hand back all keys.
For more on licence agreements, see:
Vacating Checklist:
- To help ensure you get your deposit back (where applicable):
- Pay all rent and bills; take final meter readings.
- Replace any missing or damaged items.
- Thoroughly clean the property and remove all belongings.
Return all keys. - Do a final inspection with your landlord or agent.
Deposits can only be withheld for:
- Unpaid rent
- Outstanding bills
- Damage beyond normal wear and tear
- Losses from early termination (if applicable)
More info: RTB – Deposits and Returning Your Deposit
Need Advice or Support?
If you need help understanding your rights, ending your tenancy, or resolving a dispute, there are several places you can turn to for free information and support:
UCC Accommodation & Community Life Office:
- Located in the South Lodge, behind the Boole Library on the UCC main campus
- Advice and guidance on tenancy rights, accommodation searches, and moving out
- Email: resservices@ucc.ie
Threshold – National Housing Charity
- Free, confidential advice for tenants and licence holders
- Specialists in deposit disputes, tenancy rights, and landlord/tenant issues
- Cork Office: 22 South Mall, Cork City
- Phone: 0818 438 438
- Website: www.threshold.ie
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
- National body regulating the rental sector in Ireland
- Dispute resolution service for tenants and landlords
- Information on tenancy rights, notice periods, and deposits
- Website: www.rtb.ie
Rights in student apartment buildings
The contracts between student apartment complexes (both university owned and private) and their residents come under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board. This means that residents of these buildings have rights and responsibilities as they are laid out in the Residential Tenancies Act. Residents of student apartment buildings are also free to refer any disputes with their provider to the RTB for review.
Rights in digs (owner occupied rentals)
In legal terms the agreement between landlord and renter, a licensee in this case, in owner occupied rentals is considered a contract rather than a tenacy. As such the renter, known as a licensee in this case, does not have the protections given to a tenant by the Residential Tenacies Act. For this reason it is very important that you have a written contract with the landlord and you are happy with all the points of this agreement.
You should ensure that the contract:
- Protects against any rent increases within a reasonable period, ideally a full year.
- Stipulates the terms for ending the agreement.
- Lays out notice periods.
- Identifies penalties for ending the agreement early.
Monetary disputes with your landlord can be referred to the Small Claims Court.
If you are having difficulty with your landlord please feel free to contact us.