Services · Pack 02

RTB Acceleration Pack

Solicitor-quality RTB work at a flat fee. For when negotiation isn't on the table and the tribunal route is the right one.

The RTB process is not, by design, hostile to landlords. It is just structurally slow, evidence-hungry, and unforgiving of procedural errors. A Notice of Termination served on the wrong day, by the wrong method, with the wrong wording, gets thrown out on appeal and the clock resets. The RTB Acceleration Pack is the productised version of doing every step correctly, on a flat fee, with a single point of contact, in the time it takes a solicitor to send a fee proposal.

The proposition — €2,000 fixed

When negotiation isn't going to land — because arrears are too large to absorb, the tenant is hostile or unresponsive, or the case needs a tribunal-level outcome on the public record — the RTB Acceleration Pack runs the formal route end to end. We do this for €2,000 fixed. A property-law solicitor running the same case hourly typically bills €5,000–€10,000 by close.

When this pack is right

When this pack is wrong

What's included

Initial case review60-minute call, full review of tenancy file
Tenancy registration checkVerification of RTB registration; if missing, registration as part of engagement
Notice of TerminationDrafted by us, reviewed by partner solicitor before service
Service of noticeWe coordinate proper service (in-person + registered post + email if applicable)
Evidence bundleArrears ledger, tenancy agreement, registration cert, photos, communications log, witness statements where applicable
RTB application filingFull application drafted and submitted
Written submissionsPre-hearing submissions tailored to the case
Adjudication advocacyOur advocate represents you at the adjudication hearing
Tribunal advocacyIf the case goes to tribunal, advocacy at tribunal — included, no extra fee
Determination follow-throughPost-determination paperwork and enforcement options briefing
Solicitor review of all documentsPartner solicitor reviews every formal document before filing
Weekly written updateEvery Monday during the active case

Process and timeline

The RTB process timeline isn't ours to control. Realistic timeline:

Engagement signed → Notice of Termination served1–2 weeks
Notice period (statutory)28 days minimum, up to 224 days for long tenancies on certain grounds
RTB application filed1 week after notice expires
RTB acknowledges + assigns adjudication date4–8 weeks
Determination order issued4–6 weeks after adjudication
Tribunal appeal (if either party appeals)+4–8 months
Court enforcement (if tenant doesn't comply)+2–4 months

So a typical clean case: 6–10 months from engagement to vacant possession + arrears award. A case that goes to tribunal and then needs court enforcement: 14–20 months. Faster than going alone (procedural errors compound delays) but not fast in absolute terms. The RTB process is what it is.

Two real public-record cases to anchor

The Tallaght overholding determination — €21,000 + €47.34/day

A landlord in Tallaght, Dublin 24, served a Notice of Termination in January 2023. The tenant did not vacate. RTB adjudication on 2 June 2023. On 16 August 2023 the RTB issued a Determination Order requiring the tenant to vacate within 28 days, pay €21,000+ in arrears, AND pay €47.34 for every day they continued to occupy after 2 June 2023 — adding €331/week to the arrears figure.

The per-diem mechanism is the underused leverage tool in Irish RTB practice. Most landlords running RTB cases without representation focus on the historic arrears figure and miss the per-diem request. We weaponise it in two ways: weekly written notice to the tenant of the running balance (most don't track it; the first reminder showing arrears jumping €331 in a week reframes the negotiation), and per-diem-inclusive figure baked into the eventual judgment-mortgage application.

Read the full case study →

€42,000 arrears + threatening messages

RTB hearing in May 2025: arrears reached €42,000 and the tenant was alleged to have sent threatening messages. Cash-for-Keys is off the table once threats enter the picture. The case becomes evidence-led, runs in parallel with a Garda referral under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and aims for an anti-social-behaviour determination on top of arrears.

Read the full case study →

FAQ

Why is this cheaper than a solicitor doing the same work?

Productisation. A solicitor charging hourly is pricing in case complexity uncertainty. We've productised the standard RTB-route case so we know what's involved, run it at scale, and price it flat. We're not competing with solicitors on cases that need litigation; we're handling the volume of cases that don't.

Can shelter.ie advocates appear at the RTB?

Yes. The RTB permits non-solicitor representation at adjudication and tribunal. Our advocates do this regularly. The RTB does NOT permit non-solicitor representation in the Circuit Court — if the case escalates to court enforcement, we hand off to our partner solicitor.

What about appeals?

Either party can appeal an adjudicator's determination to a tribunal within 21 days. Tribunal advocacy is included in the €2,000 fee. Tribunal determinations can be further appealed to the High Court on a point of law only — that's litigation territory, our partner solicitor handles.

The honest counterpoint

The RTB Acceleration Pack does not promise a fast outcome. It promises a correctly-run outcome. The RTB queue is what it is — at peak in 2024, average time from application to determination was over 6 months for adjudications and 14+ months for tribunals. We can prevent procedural delays. We can't shorten the RTB's own timeline.

See if RTB Acceleration fits your case.

Free 15-minute consult. We'll tell you which pack fits — or that none of them does.

Book your consult →