Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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676. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the protection provided to persons renting out a property in the event of tenants becoming troublesome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35969/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.

The 2004 Act sets out the rights, duties and obligations of landlords and tenants. Section 16 of the Act specifies the obligations of a tenant which include the payment of rent; not causing a deterioration in the condition of the dwelling; and not behaving either within the dwelling or in the vicinity of it, in a way that is anti-social.

While action to deal with anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána, in the case of private rented dwellings, landlords are responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the 2004 Act. Where a tenant is engaged in anti-social behaviour or allowing others to engage in such behaviour, the Act allows a landlord to terminate the tenancy, subject to a notice period of only 7 days in the case of serious anti-social behaviour or 28 days in the case of less serious but persistent behaviour.

Where there is a dispute regarding the appropriate period of notice to be given in respect of a tenancy or the validity of a notice of termination or where the tenant does not comply with the notice of termination, the dispute may be referred to the PRTB for resolution.