Renting rooms: need to register with Private Residential Tenancies Board?

Scruff

just after seeing this article on the irish independent website that has me a bit worried:

More than 120,000 landlords are reportedly facing fines of up to €3,000 after failing to register their properties by a December 1st deadline.
Reports this morning said government figures had shown that the Private Residential Tenancies Board had received just 20,000 registration forms from landlords ahead of the deadline.

Responding to the news this morning, Aideen Hayden of the housing organisation Threshold said: "It's exceptionally disappointing."

"One can only assume that a lot of landlords are not registering because they don't believe they'll be caught or perhaps because they're concerned that their details may be given to the Revenue Commissioners."

we have 2 room rented in out in my gf's house to help pay the motrgage but we're renting them in total for less than the amount your allowed before being taxed. Does she still have to declare them to that board mentioned above or to revenue?

MDR

May I refer you to an exaplaination. It about protecting your rights and rights of your tenant.

An exerpt.

Registration of Tenancies (Part 7)

Landlords will have to register details of all their tenancies with the PRTB but from the commencement of the new registration system will no longer have to register with local authorities. The Board will use the registration data for its information provision function and for resolving certain types of disputes.

Registration Procedures

• In future new tenancies will have to be registered within a month, existing tenancies will have to be registered within 3 months of Part 7 of the Act coming into force (i.e. by the 1st of December 2004).
• Landlords currently registered with local authorities must re-register with the PRTB giving details required by the Act but will not have to pay a fee.
• The requirement to register arises only where a new tenancy is created.
• While a revised rent must be updated in the register within a month of taking, that notification will not require to be accompanied by a fee. Other relevant changes that occur in the details of the registered tenancy need only be notified as part of a rent review update.
• Tenants must supply landlords with the information they need to complete the registration form, including their Personal Public Service Number. • The registration fee is 70 per unit and a composite fee of 300 is available where a number of units in the one property are being registered at the same time.
• There are exceptions in certain limited circumstances i.e. 2 fees already paid in respect of the dwelling within the previous year.
• A double fee applies for late registrations.
• In a case where a tenancy lasts for 4 years, a new registration application and fee will apply where a further Part 4 tenancy commences immediately afterwards.
• The fees will keep pace with inflation. Other Registration Functions of the PTRB
• The PTRB will exchange data on tenancies with local authorities and the Department of Social and Family Affairs and will provide particulars to he Revenue Commissioners as requested.
• The PTRB will rigorously pursue compliance by landlords with the registration requirement. Failure to do so is an offence and the penalty on conviction is a fine of up to €3,000 or up to 6 months imprisonment or both.
• Landlords must be registered in order to avail of the PRTB dispute resolution service.
• Tenants will have access to the service irrespective of whether or no the tenancy is registered.
• When registered, the PTRB will issue the landlord and tenants with a registration number.
• An extract from the register will be available to the public. It will not contain information that would disclose the identity of the landlord or tenant or the rent .

MDR

doesn't apply to you it seems.

The Act applies to the mainstream private rented sector so it does not apply to:
• owner-occupied accommodation
• social housing
• the formerly rent-controlled sector
• long occupation equity tenancies
• business lettings
• holiday lettings
• "rent a room" or other arrangements whereby the landlord
also resides in the dwelling

Scruff

Thanks for that wasnt sure at all what it meant but thought we could be caught by or ignorance of such matters.

Do ye know if we have to declare the rent we receive as income even though it is less than the amount allowed under the ower-occupied rental scheme?

MDR

AFAI you have to declare all income.

spongebob

Correct. You declare an amount which is less than the Rent a Room scheme limit and you pay no tax on it .

M

shoegirl

Scruff wrote:

Thanks for that wasnt sure at all what it meant but thought we could be caught by or ignorance of such matters.

Do ye know if we have to declare the rent we receive as income even though it is less than the amount allowed under the ower-occupied rental scheme?

You don't have to register as they are lodgers rather than tenants.

Yes, you must declare the income. ALL income must be declared regardless of source. However you'll still pay no tax on it.