I have had a shocking experience in the last 18 months or so with a residential tenant of mine.
I had to bring him to the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) twice and won the case on both occasions.
But I still felt utterly powerless because I was still unable to get my property back with vacant possession.
The guy had not paid rent for over 12 months, and this was reflected in the RTB decision after the hearing. It also held that I was entitled to take back my property.
But the tenant said he was not moving out until the local authority gave him a house.
And there was little I could do about it because the RTB decision on its own does not allow you to take back the property. You still need to go to the District Court to enforce the RTB determination.
You can only do this after the period during which the tenant could appeal has expired. So, the tenant is continuing to live in my property rent free, and there is little or nothing I can do about it.
I will be making a video about this in the near future.
Meanwhile, learn more about the law surrounding residential lettings here.