Legal

Engagement Letter — sample

A redacted, illustrative version of the Engagement Letter we issue to clients. The actual letter is customised to the chosen pack and the specific case at the post-consult stage.

Parties

Shelter ("Shelter", "we", "us") — Shelter.ie, an advisory and project-management service operating from Ireland.

Client — the named landlord (or letting agent acting for a landlord) identified at signature.

1. Scope of engagement

Shelter is engaged to deliver one of the following productised packs (selected at signature):

• Cash-for-Keys Negotiation — third-party negotiation with the named tenant(s) toward a structured deed-of-surrender exit. Includes case review, tenant approach, up to 4 negotiation rounds, deed of surrender drafting (reviewed by partner solicitor), supervised handover, and 30-day post-handover support. Fee: €1,500 fixed, plus the agreed exit payment to the tenant (separately settled and paid by the Client).
• RTB Acceleration Pack — full RTB-process project management. Includes Notice of Termination drafting and service, evidence bundle, RTB application, written submissions, advocacy at adjudication, and (if appealed) advocacy at tribunal. Fee: €2,000 fixed. RTB filing fees are paid by the Client directly to the RTB.
• Documentation & Evidence Service — retainer engagement covering case management, evidence preservation, witness statement co-ordination, and project management of any PSA-licensed surveillance work. Fee: €750 setup + €250 monthly retainer. Surveillance work, where engaged, is contracted directly between the Client and our PSA-licensed Private Investigator partner at agreed rates.

2. What we do not do (the prohibitions clause)

Notwithstanding any instruction from the Client, Shelter will not:

• Change the locks of any tenanted property without proper legal authority
• Disconnect or threaten to disconnect utilities
• Move or threaten to move tenant property
• Make threats, direct or implied, against any tenant
• Engage in conduct constituting harassment under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997
• Engage in conduct constituting criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act 1991
• Engage in conduct constituting illegal eviction under section 58 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 or interference with peaceful occupation under section 12 of the same Act
• Provide legal advice (we project-manage; regulated practitioners advise)
• Represent the Client in the Circuit Court, High Court, or any higher court (these matters are referred to our partner solicitor)

The Client agrees not to instruct Shelter to do any of the above. If the Client requests such conduct, Shelter will refuse, document the refusal in writing, and continue with the lawful version of the engagement. Repeated requests of this kind constitute grounds for termination by Shelter under clause 7.

3. Partner involvement

Shelter co-ordinates partner professionals on the Client's case where appropriate:

• Partner solicitor — reviews formal documents before filing; takes on litigation where required. The solicitor's fees, where billed, are payable separately to the solicitor.
• PSA-licensed Private Investigator — runs surveillance under their licence, with a contract directly between the Client and the PI. Shelter does not hold a PSA licence and does not perform surveillance directly.
• Partner debt collector — engaged at the post-RTB recovery stage if required. Fees on a percentage-of-recovery basis paid directly to the debt collector.

4. Fees and payment

The fee for the chosen pack is payable on signature of this Engagement Letter. Refunds in defined circumstances:

• Cash-for-Keys: if the tenant refuses to engage at all (rare), 67% (€500) is retained for work done and 33% (€1,000) refunded.
• RTB Acceleration: if the tenant clears arrears and the case settles before adjudication, €500 of the €2,000 is refunded.
• Documentation & Evidence: monthly retainer pro-rated to engagement closure date.

RTB filing fees, court enforcement fees, surveillance fees, partner solicitor fees, and partner debt collector fees are billed separately by the relevant body or partner directly to the Client.

5. Outcomes

Shelter does not guarantee any specific outcome. The Residential Tenancies Board, the courts, and the tenant's responsiveness are factors outside Shelter's control. What Shelter guarantees is the quality of the work — properly drafted notices, complete evidence bundles, professional advocacy — and a flat fee that doesn't grow if the case is harder than expected.

6. Confidentiality

Shelter holds engagement information confidentially. We do not disclose Client identity, tenancy details, or case content to any third party except: (a) as necessary to deliver the engagement (e.g., partner solicitor review); (b) as required by law; (c) with the Client's express consent. Public-record case studies on shelter.ie do not feature any active or former Shelter clients without their prior written consent.

7. Termination

Either party may terminate this engagement on 7 days' written notice. On termination:

• Shelter retains fees in respect of work already done
• Unused fees are pro-rated and refunded where appropriate
• The Client receives a final documentation pack of work-to-date
• Confidentiality and the prohibitions clause continue in effect

Shelter may terminate immediately if the Client instructs unlawful action and refuses to withdraw the instruction.

8. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, Shelter's aggregate liability under this engagement is limited to the fee paid by the Client for the chosen pack, except where liability cannot lawfully be limited (death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, etc.). Nothing in this clause limits liability for any matter that cannot lawfully be limited under Irish law.

9. Data protection

Shelter processes personal data in accordance with the Privacy Notice. The Client warrants that any data they provide to Shelter is provided lawfully and that the Client is entitled to share that data for the purposes of the engagement.

10. Governing law

This engagement is governed by Irish law. Any dispute arising under it is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

11. Signatures

The actual Engagement Letter contains a signature block for the Client and the Shelter representative, signed digitally at engagement.

If you would like to receive an unredacted draft of the Engagement Letter for your specific case before signing, please request it during the consult or email hello@shelter.ie.