Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the work his Department has undertaken with the Residential Tenancies Board to ensure that landlords who are not registered with the board but have properties let out to tenants will meet their legal requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33757/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Registered landlords and all tenants can apply to the RTB for dispute resolution.

Section 134 of the Acts requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within one month of its commencement. All private landlords, Approved Housing Bodies and providers of Student Specific Accommodation are required to register their tenancies with the RTB. Managing the registration of tenancies is a core function of the RTB. This allows the RTB to collect and provide definitive data on the rental sector and for transparency across the rental sector through the public register of tenancies; thus, enabling a better understanding of the sector.

Non-compliance with the requirement to register a tenancy is dealt with by two processes in the RTB, the Registration Enforcement Process or the Investigations and Sanctions Process.

The RTB has registration enforcement powers to pursue landlords who have not complied with their obligation to register their tenancies. Failure to register is an offence which may result in a criminal conviction, a fine of up to €4,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment. The RTB makes every effort to inform landlords of their obligations to register and legal action is taken as a last resort. The RTB, receives information from different sources regarding whether a tenancy is registered or not, including local authorities, members of the public, RTB checks and follow-ups and the Department of Social Protection. The RTB writes to landlords directly and gives them opportunities to comply before legal action is taken. The majority of landlords who are contacted are already complying with their obligation or then comply with their obligation to register which halts any requirement for the formal enforcement process. However, in a small number of cases formal notices and Solicitor Letters must be issued.

The RTB has an Investigations and Sanctions unit dedicated to investigating certain potential breaches of rental law by a landlord referred to as improper conduct under Schedule 2 to the Acts. One of the breaches that can be investigated is a failure to register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of the tenancy commencing. The Investigations and Sanctions Unit can start an investigation either as a result of information received from members of the public or as a result of information gathered from records that the RTB has access to under the Residential Tenancies Acts. If a landlord is found to have engaged in improper conduct, a sanction may be imposed on them by an independent Decision maker which may comprise on or all of the following - a written caution, a monetary sanction of €15,000 and €15,000 in costs.

The Residential Tenancies Board displays comprehensive information on its website - www.rtb.ie.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is considering a rent freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33753/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest.

The rent increase limit of 4% per annum that applies in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) provides for a modest increase in revenue for accommodation providers to ensure that rental properties are maintained to meet minimum standards. The introduction of the rent increase restriction in RPZs had regard to the constitutionally protected property rights of landlords and takes account of local rental market factors, providing certainty to tenants and landlords with regard to medium-term rent levels. 

The Rent Predictability Measure is due to expire on 31 December 2021 and any necessary rent controls from 2022 are currently being examined. 

Any proposed measure that impacts on private property rights requires detailed consideration and scrutiny having regard to the provisions of article 43 of the Constitution and the associated legal complexities.