Why has there been a collapse in Adjudication and Tribunal orders? Has the RTB gone on strike?

S

stormy

Frequent Poster
Messages
571
The RTB is currently a 'black hole' for communication. Between the years-long wait times for dispute outcomes and the consistent failure to respond to emails or calls, I would suggest the agency's inability to provide basic help or answers is reaching a crisis point.

Despite the recent surge in disputes (up 26% yoy in Q4 2025), they have significantly curtailed their output of adjudication and tribunal orders. The public register (here), show only 59 publications so far in 2026 (most recent dated 9th April). There was 2,001 publications for last year (2025) and 2,859 for 2024. At last years run rate, there should be over 500 publications so far 2026 (and not 59).

Extrapolating this run-rate, they are on track to issue just ~220 orders for all of 2026. If this is the case, they are putting thousands of people in legal limbo. This is despite the increased government budget allocation.

Does anyone know why they have more or less stopped dealing with disputes? Given its generally beneficial for tenants to have cases delayed, is this yet another instance of bias against accommodation providers? Is the RTB on strike?

If I've made a mistake and I'm missing something let me know.

1775895529581.webp
 
Last edited:
stormy said:
If I've made a mistake and I'm missing something let me know.
Click to expand...
I am a landlord, I don't know if you are what I will say ls landlords have got a bee in their bonnet about the RTB,
If the RTB is on strike and most landlords on hear appear to think the RTB is not on their side what is the problem,

The RTB no matter what the do will not solve the problem Landlords have at the moment the problem is not the RTB,
 
Last edited:
stormy said:
Is the RTB on strike?
Click to expand...

I wonder if there is a delay before a hearing is added to the list, so 59 is maybe only some of the ones for 2026.

The latest date is 9th April, so maybe not. If there was a variable delay before adding a case to the database, then it would lead to an undercount near the start of the year.

galway said:
The RTB no matter what the do will not solve the problem Landlords have at the moment the problem is not the RTB,
Click to expand...
Uh, if landlords want to leave the sector and have issued a NoT, then a slow RTB is exactly their problem.
 
Last edited:
LarryScott said:
Uh, if landlords want to leave the sector and have issued a NoT, then a slow RTB is exactly their problem.
Click to expand...
It can take over 2 years to remove an overholding tenant based on current RTB timeframes.

If there is this massive slowdown in the RTB, then that could double to 4 years.

That is a problem for landlords and it is also a problem for tenants. There will be fewer landlords as people will be unwilling to take this risk. The remaining landlords will be ultra careful who they let to.
 
DeeKie said:
Could be that the new IT systems are not working out.
Click to expand...
Very possibly. The IT system for annual registration collapsed immediately and it took them about 2 years to get it back up and running so they have form for this.
 
DeeKie said:
Could be that the new IT systems are not working out.
Click to expand...
Possibly, but it would be surprising as that portal has now been expanded and is now used for rent reviews and rent setting notices. They could also be a mess too of course.

Either way one really has to question if the RTB is fit for purpose.
 
The original idea behind the RTB and its original purpose was solely to hear cases between landlords and tenants. The idea was that what were often small issues, but important to the people involved, shouldn't be dealt with by the Courts which are expensive and time consuming. By itself, that was a very good idea and made perfect sense.

However, at this point, it is probably as expensive for a landlord if he has to go the RTB as he'll have to get a solicitor. Also, you'd probably be heard in a shorter time if you went to the District Court.

The final and most important point is that we know how biased the RTB is. An overholding and non-paying tenant is given every opportunity to remain in the property. If the landlord is awarded compensation because the tenant has damaged the property, he has to go to the District Court anyway to get the payment enforced and the RTB won't help him (if the compensation is for the tenant, the RTB will help though).

So the original good idea has now made things worse by creating a slow expensive and biased additional layer. From memory the RTB now costs about €25m a year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top