Monaghan County Council is dedicated to improving the living standards of tenants in private rented housing. This is done, in accordance with Government Regulations, through the inspection of private rented properties. ​

​Minimum Standards for Private Rented Accommodation​

The main objective of the Housing Standards Regulations is to establish minimum standards in order to protect the health and wellbeing of tenants and to make private rented houses safe and fit for habitation.​

​Landlords are legally obliged to ensure that their private rented houses (which include a house, flat or an apartment) are maintained in good condition and repair and comply with the Regulations. Landlords failing to comply with their legal obligations in private rented houses are liable to be prosecuted, and on conviction, may be subject to a fine or imprisonment or both.​

​The following are covered in detail under the housing standards legislation and the technical guide documents:​

  • Structural Condition​
  • Sanitary Facilities​
  • Heating Facilities​
  • Food Preparation and Storage and Laundry​
  • Ventilation​
  • Lighting​
  • Fire Safety​
  • Refuse​
  • Electricity and Gas​
  • Dealing with Complaints      ​

Further information on the relevant legislation may be obtained on www.environ.ie or www.irishstatutebook.ie

Please find updated Guidelines for Housing Authorities Minimum Standards in Rented Accommodation attached:

Guidelines for Housing Authorities Minimum Standards In Rented Accommodation (March 2024)

Inspections of Private Rented Accommodation​

Monaghan County Council (in our role as a housing authority) are responsible, through inspection, for determining whether a property meets the standards for rental accommodation and, where the property does not, for ensuring compliance through the use of improvement and prohibition notices and legal proceedings.​

​Landlords and tenants are required to allow the Housing Authority access to the property to undertake inspections.​

​Where it is not clear from an inspection that a rental property is in compliance with the Regulations, the Housing Authority may require the landlord to provide such evidence as is necessary to establish that they have complied with the requirements of the Regulations.​

​If you are a tenant and you believe your private rented property does not comply with minimum standards, you should discuss this with the landlord. If you and your landlord cannot resolve this informally, you should contact the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) for more information on your rights and responsibilities.  ​

​If the property is below the minimum standards and the landlord refuses to carry out repairs as required, the tenant can ask Monaghan County Council to carry out an inspection and issue notice of improvement to comply with the standards where necessary.​

​Dealing with Complaints​

Tenants occupying accommodation not meeting the relevant standards should, in the first instance, contact the landlord in order to give the landlord an opportunity to put the matter right. If a tenant has notified the landlord regarding the need for repairs, but the problem has not been rectified by the landlord, then the tenant can choose to refer the matter to the Private Rented Inspections section of Monaghan County Council’s Housing Department for investigation.​

When contacting the inspections section of Monaghan County Council’s Housing Department, the tenant should provide their full name, address, Eircode and telephone number/mobile number along with full details of their concerns/query. The name, address and contact details for the landlord should also be provided.

Complaints cannot be dealt with when:​

  • They are anonymous​
  • The matter does not relate to housing standards​
  • There is insufficient information given to investigate​

​If it is the opinion of the inspections section of Monaghan County Council’s Housing Department that the complaint requires further investigation, then an appointment will be made to inspect the relevant property and further action initiated if warranted. ​

​Prohibition Notices – Section 18B Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 (as amended)​

Townhouse 3, 72 Main Street, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan​

​Useful Links​

  • For further information, visit the Residential Tenancies Board’s website at www.rtb.ie​

​Useful Documents​

Details of requirements can be found in the document links below:​