Unregistered tenanancy

Enquiring for a friend (as they say)... A girl I know is renting in an house with a relative in Lucan. Landlord is rarely there but has kept one of the rooms for himself. The rent is low (about 30-40% lower than he would be able to get on the market). The relationship seems good enough but it's all "off the books". What are the (realistic) potential pitfalls for her and indeed for the landlord ? I'm aware of the stories circulating recently about the rent reduction which would lead to the landlord being shopped, but the understanding between them is that she won't do that.

(If this has been covered elsewhere, let me know. Tx.)

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058266741/unregistered-tenanancy

Shopped for an unregistered tenancy? Sounds suspiciously like your friend is sharing with the owner and doesn’t have exclusive use of the property they are renting. If it’s a licensee arrangement, the “tenancy” doesn’t need to be registered with the RTB, the LL could raise the rent today or kick your friend out and the RTB would be powerless.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119722788#Comment_119722788

Just looked "licensee arrangement" up, thanks. Never even heard of that before.

Why don't all "tax-dodging" landlords just say there tenants are "licensees" ? She's aware of the dangers but arrangement - lower rent for her, no taxes for him - suits them both. Reading about licensees it doesn't even sound like what he's doing is illegal.

TheChizler

If he's never there the RTB might view it as an actual tenancy, can't speak for Revenue. Tax is entirely the landlord's issue if he's living here.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119722873#Comment_119722873

If your friends are licensees/sharing with the owner, they are little more than guests in his house and do not have tenant rights. He could literally put your friend out of his house with little notice. So if your friend wants to threaten him, tell her have her bags packed, then she should go to Revenue and report him.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119722899#Comment_119722899

Thanks. No she's very happy with the arrangement and likes the landlord. The place is very nice and she could only get a worse place for more money if she moved out (if she could find a place at all). She has no intention of snitching on him.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119722936#Comment_119722936

Then I think your friend should do what benefits her most.