A tenant in Cork opens an adjudication report and believes the adjudicator got important facts wrong. A landlord in Galway believes the adjudicator did not properly consider key evidence.
For both, an RTB Tribunal may be the next stage of the Residential Tenancies Board’s dispute-resolution process.
A tribunal is not simply a review of an earlier decision. It is a full rehearing of the relevant facts of the tenancy dispute, and the parties can submit additional evidence relevant to the case.
Here is what tenants and landlords need to know about an RTB Tribunal hearing in Ireland.
What is an RTB Tribunal?
An RTB Tribunal is the final stage of the Residential Tenancies Board’s internal dispute-resolution process.
It can follow either RTB mediation or adjudication.
The Tribunal reheard the relevant facts of the dispute. The parties can present their case again and submit additional evidence before the hearing.
A Tribunal usually consists of three people: a chairperson and two other Tribunal members.
The panel considers the evidence and the relevant law before making a legally binding decision.
Unlike mediation, a tribunal does not depend on the parties reaching an agreement. The panel decides the dispute.
Who can appeal to an RTB Tribunal?
Only the original parties to the RTB dispute can appeal the case to a Tribunal.
These are:
- The applicant — the person who originally applied for mediation or adjudication
- Respondent — the other party in the dispute
A tribunal appeal must concern a dispute that was already brought before the RTB. This is not an opportunity to introduce an entirely new dispute.
The RTB describes a Tribunal as the final stage of its dispute-resolution process.
How long do you have to appeal to an RTB Tribunal?
The deadline is strict.
From 14 September 2026, the RTB states that you must appeal from mediation within 10 working days of the date the mediation agreement was reached, or the mediation ended.
An appeal from adjudication must be made within 10 working days of receiving the Adjudication Report.
Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
Late applications may be rejected. In adjudication cases, the RTB says a late appeal must go to the RTB Board, which can allow a late appeal only in limited circumstances.
This makes the date the mediation ends, or the Adjudication Report is received, extremely important.
How much does an RTB Tribunal cost?
The fee depends on what the Tribunal appeal follows:
- €30 after mediation
- €85 after adjudication
The RTB says these fees apply to Tribunal appeals.
How do you apply to an RTB Tribunal?
Applications can be made through the RTB Service Centre.
If you cannot apply online, the RTB provides an application form that can be submitted by email or post.
The RTB currently lists tribunals@rtb.ie for Tribunal applications sent by email.
The application and the correct fee must be submitted within the applicable deadline.
What happens before the RTB hearing?
The RTB gives the parties a date and time for the hearing.
Since 14 September 2026, parties can receive at least 10 working days’ notice of a Tribunal hearing. Previously, the standard notice period was longer.
Tribunal hearings normally take place:
- Monday to Friday
- At 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.
- By video in most cases
The RTB arranges in-person hearings where necessary.
Interpreters and translators are also available if requested.
Are RTB Tribunal hearings public?
Yes.
RTB Tribunal hearings are public hearings. Members of the public can attend as observers without the parties’ permission.
The RTB publishes schedules of Tribunal hearings and allows members of the public to attend hearings in person or online. Observers can listen but cannot speak or record the hearing.
This is an important difference from RTB mediation, which is confidential.
Can an RTB Tribunal hearing be recorded?
No.
The RTB states that recording of a virtual tribunal hearing is not permitted under any circumstances.
The same principle applies to members of the public attending hearings: they can observe but cannot record the meeting.
What if you cannot attend the RTB hearing?
An adjournment can be requested, but the RTB says these are only granted in exceptional circumstances.
The request should be made in writing and supported by evidence.
Work or college commitments are not normally considered valid reasons for an adjournment.
If you cannot attend, the RTB says you can:
- Nominate someone to represent you
- Submit a written statement
If the person who applied for the Tribunal does not attend and has not given notice, the RTB will assume that person has withdrawn the application.
The RTB can then decide the order based on the earlier mediation agreement or adjudication decision.
If the other party has also appealed, that party’s case will continue.
Who can attend an RTB Tribunal hearing?
A party to the dispute can attend with another person, such as a friend or family member.
A party can also have a solicitor or other professional representative.
The RTB asks parties to tell the Tribunal in advance how many people will attend.
If a translator is needed, this should also be arranged in advance.
Do you need a solicitor?
No.
You do not normally need a solicitor or barrister for an RTB Tribunal hearing.
The RTB describes its dispute-resolution service as a less formal, low-cost alternative to court proceedings.
If you intend to use legal representation, the RTB asks that you notify it within seven days of receiving your hearing date.
The RTB says the cost of legal representation will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the RTB Board.
Can you bring witnesses?
Yes.
A party can bring witnesses to an RTB Tribunal hearing.
If you need a witness to be formally summoned, the RTB says you should request this at least seven calendar days before the hearing.
The tribunal panel decides whether a subpoena should be issued.
A witness should be able to explain clearly what part of the tenancy dispute they have direct knowledge of.
What happens during an RTB Tribunal hearing?
A typical tribunal hearing lasts between one and two hours, although more complicated cases can take longer.
The hearing is managed by the chairperson.
Each party has an opportunity to explain their case using evidence that has been shared with the other side.
The parties can:
- Present relevant evidence
- Explain their position
- Respond to the other party’s arguments
- Answer questions
- Cross-examine the other party
The Tribunal panel considers the evidence and the relevant law when deciding the dispute.
What evidence can be used?
Evidence should directly relate to the issues the Tribunal has to decide.
Depending on the tenancy dispute, this could include:
- Tenancy agreements
- Rent payment records
- Bank records
- Notices
- Emails
- Text messages
- Photographs
- Inspection reports
- Receipts
- Invoices
- Maintenance records
- Previous RTB correspondence
- Witness evidence
The RTB says evidence submitted for the Tribunal is shared with the parties, their representatives and the Tribunal panel.
That means parties should think carefully about what they submit.
A large collection of documents does not automatically make a case stronger. Evidence is most useful when it directly addresses an issue the Tribunal has to decide.
Can you submit new evidence?
Yes.
A Tribunal is a full rehearing of the relevant facts, and the RTB allows either party to submit additional evidence before the hearing.
However, the evidence must be relevant to the dispute.
A tribunal appeal is not a way to introduce an entirely different tenancy dispute that was never part of the original case.
Can you withdraw an RTB Tribunal appeal?
Yes.
A party can withdraw an appeal at any point before the Tribunal makes its decision.
If the withdrawal happens during the hearing, the panel must ask whether the other party objects.
If the other party objects, the Tribunal can consider whether the withdrawing party should cover some of the other party’s costs.
If there is no objection, the RTB can issue a legally binding Determination Order based on the earlier mediation or adjudication outcome.
Can a landlord and tenant settle before the Tribunal?
Yes.
The parties can reach an agreement at any stage.
If they settle, the applicant must tell the RTB that they want to withdraw the case.
This means a dispute does not necessarily have to reach the end of a Tribunal hearing once both parties have reached an acceptable agreement.
What happens after the Tribunal hearing?
The Tribunal panel makes its decision in a Determination Order and prepares a Tribunal report.
The report includes an overview of the hearing, the panel’s decision and the reasons for the decisions made.
The Determination Order is legally binding.
The RTB issues the report and Determination Order to the parties.
Are RTB Tribunal decisions published?
Yes.
The RTB publishes Tribunal reports and Determination Orders on its website.
The RTB also provides a searchable database of previous Tribunal outcomes and Determination Orders.
This makes Tribunal proceedings different from confidential mediation.
It also means that parties should understand that an RTB Tribunal can create a publicly accessible record of the dispute and its outcome.
Can you appeal an RTB Tribunal decision?
The RTB Tribunal is the final stage of the RTB’s internal dispute-resolution process.
A tribunal decision can be appealed to the High Court if it does not comply with the law.
The RTB states that the appeal must be made within 21 calendar days.
The High Court appeal is therefore not simply another opportunity to ask the court to reconsider the facts of the tenancy dispute.
How long does an RTB Tribunal case take?
The RTB reported an average time of 17 weeks to resolve a Tribunal case in 2025.
This is an average rather than a guaranteed timeframe.
Individual cases can take longer or shorter depending on the circumstances and complexity of the tenancy dispute.
How should tenants and landlords prepare?
The best preparation starts with the earlier mediation agreement or adjudication decision.
Before the RTB hearing:
- Read the earlier decision carefully.
- Identify exactly what you are challenging.
- Gather evidence that supports those points.
- Put documents into a clear chronological order.
- Prepare a short timeline of important events.
- Review the other party’s evidence.
- Think about the strongest arguments the other side may make.
- Prepare concise answers to those arguments.
- Make sure all witnesses understand what they are being asked to address.
The aim is not to submit as much material as possible.
The aim is to make it easy for the tribunal to understand what happened, what evidence supports your account and what issues the panel needs to decide.
What tenants and landlords should remember
For anyone involved in an RTB tenancy dispute, three things matter particularly at the Tribunal stage.
1. The deadline is strict
The appeal period is only 10 working days.
A party who misses the deadline can lose the opportunity to have the dispute reheard by a tribunal, subject to the limited rules around late appeals from adjudication.
2. Tribunal grants full rehearing
It is not simply a request for someone to check whether the previous adjudicator made a mistake.
The relevant facts are heard again, and additional relevant evidence can be submitted.
3. Tribunal hearings are public
Unlike confidential mediations, Tribunal hearings are open to public observers, and Tribunal reports and Determination Orders are published by the RTB.
For tenants and landlords, this means a Tribunal hearing should be approached as a formal process, even though legal representation is not required.
Know the issue being challenged, organise the evidence and be prepared to answer the other party’s case.
RTB Tribunal: key facts at a glance
| Question | Current RTB position |
|---|---|
| What is a Tribunal? | A full rehearing of the relevant facts |
| Who can appeal? | The original parties to the dispute |
| Appeal after mediation | 10 working days |
| Appeal after adjudication | 10 working days |
| Fee after mediation | €30 |
| Fee after adjudication | €85 |
| Minimum hearing notice | 10 working days |
| Typical hearing length | 1–2 hours |
| Hearing format | Usually video; in-person where necessary |
| Are hearings public? | Yes |
| Is recording allowed? | No |
| Typical panel | Three members, including a chairperson |
| 2025 average resolution time | 17 weeks |
| Final RTB stage? | Yes |
| High Court appeal | On the basis that the decision does not comply with the law; 21 calendar days |
Related M10news guides
How RTB Disputes Work in Ireland: A Step-by-Step Guide
RTB Mediation vs Adjudication: What Is the Difference?
What Evidence Matters in an RTB Dispute?
How to Challenge an Eviction Notice in Ireland
