The Different Types of Tenancies and Leases in Irish Law

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Tenancies or leases fall into two broad categories:

  1. A tenancy for a fixed term
  2. A tenancy from year to year or other period of time.

Fixed Term Tenancies

A tenancy can be created for any fixed term of any duration. Once the fixed term is arrived at the interest of the tenant in the property ends and the lessor is entitled to possession.

Periodic Tenancies

A periodic tenancy runs for a period of time which can be a week, month, year, etc. It automatically renews on the expiry of the initial period and will continue indefinitely until the lessor serves a notice to quit.

The notice periods are set by statute and common law. These tenancies can be created expressly or by implication.

Tenancy at Will

A tenancy at will is a common law concept and involves the person being in possession of the property for an indefinite period with the consent of the owner. This type of tenancy can be terminated by either party at any time.

It is worth noting that the relationship of landlord and tenant does exist but the tenant has no interest in the land which he can transfer to third parties. His tenure is ‘personal’ between himself and the landlord.

This type of tenancy is not covered by landlord and tenancy legislation and is deemed to end one year after it commences unless determined beforehand.

Tenancy at Sufferance

This type of tenancy arises by operation of law and occurs when a tenant is in possession at the end of the lease without the landlord’s consent and without paying rent. However this tenant is not a trespasser as his original entry into possession was lawful.

A tenant at sufferance has no interest in the land and is not in a landlord/tenant relationship; in fact, he is only called a ‘tenant’ because his original entry into possession was lawful.

Statutory Tenancy

A statutory tenancy arises under various pieces of legislation such as the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982 and the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act, 1980.

Part 4 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004 also provides relief to tenants who have been in occupation of a dwelling under a tenancy for a continuous period of 6 months.

Temporary Convenience Lettings

These lettings can arise in residential or commercial situations. If they are genuinely for the temporary convenience of the owner of the property they fall outside the statutory protections afforded to tenants under landlord and tenant legislation.

In such commercial lettings, it is essential that it is stated in the letting agreement that the nature of the temporary convenience is set out. There is no legal definition of ‘temporary convenience’ but it must be for the bona fide temporary necessity of the landlord.

Otherwise statutory protection and controls will be available to the tenant.

There is no limit on the duration of such lettings.

Conclusion

It is clear that there is a wide range of tenancies which can exist for both commercial and residential properties.

The Land And Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 provides that the relationship of landlord and tenant does not now arise in relation to a tenancy at will or tenancy at sufferance.