Room Rental (Rent-a-Room) Agreement — Digital (Self-Complete)

A rent-a-room agreement in Ireland sets out the terms when you let a room in your own home to a lodger. This digital product is a self-complete rent-a-room licence agreement template for sharing your home, which you complete online. No solicitor review is included at this price.

When you rent a room in the home you live in, the arrangement is generally a licence rather than a tenancy, and it does not come under residential tenancies legislation. That means the usual tenancy rules and registration with the Residential Tenancies Board do not normally apply. This is different if you let a self-contained flat within your home. Because the legal protections are more limited, a clear written agreement helps both you and your lodger understand what has been agreed on rent, house rules and ending the arrangement.

What’s included

• A self-complete rent-a-room licence agreement template
• Designed for sharing your own home with a lodger
• Completed online by you
• No solicitor review at this price

Who this is for

• You own your home, live in it, and are taking in a lodger for the first time.
• You already have a lodger but nothing in writing.
• You are letting a room to a student for the academic year.
• You want a simple written record of rent, bills and house rules.

How it works

1. Instruct a solicitor of your choice — choose the digital document and complete your purchase.
2. Complete a short questionnaire — enter the details for your agreement online.
3. Your document is prepared from your answers — this is a self-complete product, so no solicitor reviews your answers or the finished document at this price.
4. Delivered by email — you receive your completed document by email, ready to review and sign.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a rent-a-room agreement cost in Ireland?

This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Is a lodger a tenant in Ireland?

Generally not. A person renting a room in the home you live in is usually a licensee rather than a tenant, so residential tenancies legislation does not normally apply. This is different if you let a self-contained flat within your home.

Do I need to register a lodger with the RTB?

Rent-a-room arrangements in your own home are generally licences, so they do not normally need to be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. If your arrangement is unusual, or involves a self-contained unit, get advice before relying on this.

For more background, see our landlord and tenant guide for Ireland.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.