How much notice do you give your landlord in Ireland?
A tenant gives 28 days' notice in the first six months, and more the longer you've lived there, up to 112 days. In a room in the owner's home, the notice is whatever you agreed with them.
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- RTB – how a tenant can end a tenancy
- RTB – guidance note: ending a tenancy by a tenant (March 2026)
- RTB and AMLÉ – Student Renting 101 (August 2026)
- RTB – ending a student specific accommodation tenancy
The notice a tenant gives
Less than 6 months in the home: 28 days.
6 months to 1 year: 35 days.
1 to 2 years: 42 days.
2 to 4 years: 56 days.
4 to 8 years: 84 days.
8 years or more: 112 days.
How to count the days
These are the RTB's figures for a tenant who isn't leaving because of a problem with the landlord (rtb.ie, November 2026). The notice period starts the day after you give the notice. If you post it, add a few days so your landlord still gets the full notice.
Say you've lived there eight months and want to leave on 31 December. You need 35 days, so hand over the notice by 26 November at the latest. A day or two earlier is safer.
What the notice must say
It's in writing. The RTB says a letter or an email is fine.
You sign it.
It has the date you give it to the landlord.
It gives the date the tenancy ends. You have the whole of that day to move out.
You only give a reason if you're leaving because the landlord broke their obligations.
Keep a copy. The RTB has free template notices on its website.
If you have a fixed-term lease
A lease for a set time, such as 12 months, can only be ended early in some cases: the lease has a break clause, the landlord agrees, the landlord hasn't fixed a breach of their obligations, or the landlord refuses to let you sublet or pass the lease to someone else.
Leaving early without one of these may cost you your deposit or the rent for the rest of the term. If you want to move in January, ask your landlord now and get their answer in writing. You could offer to find someone to take over the room.
If the landlord hasn't fixed a problem
First write to the landlord. Describe the problem and give them a reasonable time to fix it. If it still isn't fixed, you can give 28 days' notice, even on a fixed-term lease.
Where the landlord's behaviour puts you in serious danger, the RTB says 7 days' notice is enough.
Student residences
In purpose-built student accommodation you can end the agreement for any reason between 1 May and 1 October, with 28 days' notice. Outside those dates the fixed-term rules above apply, and you can't sublet the room.
That means leaving a residence at Christmas usually needs the provider's agreement. Our guide to student accommodation rights explains the rest.
A room in the owner's home (digs or a lodger)
If the owner lives in the house, you're usually a licensee. The RTB says these arrangements aren't tenancies, aren't registered and aren't covered by its dispute service. So the notice table above doesn't apply.
What you agreed with the host decides the notice. If you never agreed a period, tell them as soon as you know and put your leaving date in a message you both keep.
Protect your deposit
The RTB says a landlord can only take money from a deposit for unpaid rent, unpaid bills, damage beyond normal wear and tear, or not enough notice. Short notice can cost you.
Before you go, pay what you owe, take meter readings, clean, and take dated photos of the room. The deposit doesn't have to come back on the day you leave, because the landlord may need time to check the place.
Moving for a January start
Give notice in November so your last day lines up with your new start. Then look for the next room: set up alerts, and check the people looking for rooms if you need someone to take over yours.
Our blog post on starting in January 2027 has a plan from now to your first week, and the scam signs to watch for.
Common questions
How much notice does a tenant have to give in Ireland?
28 days in the first six months, 35 days from six months to a year, 42 days for one to two years, 56 days for two to four years, 84 days for four to eight years and 112 days after that (RTB, November 2026).
Can I give my landlord notice by email?
Yes. The RTB says a tenant's notice can be a letter or an email. It must be signed, dated, and give the date the tenancy ends.
Can I leave a fixed-term lease early?
Only if the lease has a break clause, the landlord agrees, the landlord hasn't fixed a breach of their obligations, or the landlord refuses to let you sublet or assign the lease. Otherwise you may lose your deposit or owe rent for the rest of the term.
How much notice does a lodger give?
The RTB notice periods don't apply to a room in the owner's home, because that's a licence, not a tenancy. The notice is what you and the host agreed, so put it in writing when you move in.
Can I leave student accommodation at Christmas?
Only in limited cases. In purpose-built student accommodation you can end the agreement for any reason between 1 May and 1 October with 28 days' notice. Outside those dates the fixed-term rules apply.