Know Your Rights October 2025

Sing it, Joe…

atest press release from the Citizens Information Centre, issued on Tuesday, October 7th 2025…

Local Property Tax

I haven’t made a tax return for the Local Property Tax for the last few years but I’ve been told that I have to make a return in November. Why is this?
The amount of the Local Property Tax (LPT) depends on the value of your property on the valuation date. The last valuation date was 1 November 2021 and the value of your property on that date was used to calculate your LPT for the years 2022 to 2025.

The next valuation date is 1 November 2025. The updated value on that date will be used to calculate LPT for the next 5 years, 2026 to 2030. You will need to assess the value of your property on 1 November 2025 and make a Local Property Tax return submitting the updated value by 7 November 2025.

The rate of LPT you pay depends on which range, or valuation band, your property value is in. The valuation bands have been increased for the next valuation date so an increase in the value of your property since 2021 may not result in an increase in the amount of LPT you pay.

You assess the value of your house yourself. To help you with this, Revenue provides an interactive tool. You can also use information sources about local property values such as:

⦿ The Residential Property Price Register
⦿ Newspapers
⦿ Local estate agents
⦿ Property websites

If you prefer, you can have a professional valuation done. Whichever method you choose, you should keep a copy of all information sources you use as Revenue may ask to see this later.

To make your LPT return, you can use your existing login details for myAccount or Revenue Online Service (ROS). Alternatively, you can log in directly to the LPT online service using your Property ID and PIN. You choose how to pay LPT when you make your LPT return. You can pay your Local Property Tax (LPT) in a single payment, or you can pay in equal instalments over the course of 2026. You can change to a different payment method at any time during the year by sending a request to Revenue.

You can find out more about the Local Property Tax here or drop into or call Bray or Arklow Citizens Information Centre.

Redundancy

What is redundancy?
Where you lose your job because your employer is closing the business or reducing the number of staff, this is known as redundancy. It happens when your job in the company no longer exists, you are let go and are not replaced.

My employer gave me notice of redundancy, what does this mean?
If your employer needs to reduce the workforce and decides to make redundancies, these can be compulsory or voluntary. In a compulsory redundancy, your employer can decide which roles will be made redundant, but they must:

⦿ Start a consultation process with you at least 30 days before you are given notice of redundancy
⦿ Give you a valid reason for making you redundant, for example, that the business is having financial difficulties or is closing down
⦿ Use fair selection criteria and follow a process set in legislation

The aim of the consultation process is to avoid redundancy and check if there are any alternative roles for you. Any alternative role offered should be reasonable, meaning you would have a similar status and working terms and conditions. If you can’t find a suitable alternative, then you continue with the redundancy process.

What redundancy pay can I get?
You are entitled to a minimum redundancy payment after you have 2 years’ (104 weeks) service in your job. This is known as statutory redundancy. The maximum weekly amount used to calculate redundancy pay is €600 a week (or €31,200 a year), even if your pay is more per week.

If you qualify for statutory redundancy you get:

⦿ 2 weeks’ pay for each year of service
⦿ 1 extra week’s pay

Can I get more than statutory redundancy pay?
It depends on your employer. Generally, your employer does not have to pay you anything on top of the normal statutory payment, unless this is stated in your contract or in a collective agreement. Your employer may give you a voluntary top-up payment, but they don’t have to. You might get other payments for unused annual leave or pay instead of working the full notice period.

You can find out more about redundancy and redundancy pay here and here, or drop into or call Bray or Arklow Citizens Information Centre.

Voting in the Presidential Election

Who can vote in the Irish Presidential election?
The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann) is elected directly by the people of Ireland. Polling for the upcoming Irish Presidential election will be held on Friday, 24 October 2025 between 7am and 10pm.

You can vote in the Presidential election if you are living in Ireland and are:
⦿ An Irish citizen
⦿ Aged 18 years or over, and you are
⦿ Registered to vote

Easy agus peasy…

You cannot register to vote if you live outside Ireland, although there are some exceptions. You can check to see if you are already registered to vote on checktheregister.ie.

If you’re not on the register, you must register to vote on or before 7 October 2025 if you plan to vote at a polling station. You can register online or download an application form here. You may be able to vote by post if you are a student living away from your home address where you are registered, or you have an illness or disability.

You can apply to be added to the special voters list if you live in a nursing home, hospital or institution. The deadline to submit the form to your local council for a postal vote or special vote was Monday, 29 September 2025.

What should I bring to the polling station on election day?
You do not need your polling card to vote. If you have a polling card, you can bring it with you. You must bring identification to vote even if you have a polling card. If you are asked to prove your identity and you cannot do so, you may not be allowed to vote.

You can prove your identity with:

⦿ A passport (either a passport card or passport book)
⦿ A driving licence
⦿ A Public Services Card
⦿ A bank or credit union account book with your name and address in the constituency
⦿ A workplace identity card, a student identity card, or a travel document (with a photograph)

If you do not have any of these documents, you can use one of the following with evidence of your address in the constituency:

⦿ A cheque book or a credit or debit card
⦿ A birth or marriage certificate

You can find out more voting in the Presidential election here or drop into or call Bray or Arklow Citizens Information Centre.

Tenants’ Rights

Am I a tenant?
A tenant is someone who has the right to live in a property under a tenancy agreement in return for paying rent to their landlord. The property must be a self-contained residential unit, unless it is student specific accommodation.

You are usually a tenant if you are:

⦿ Renting a property, or room in a property from a landlord that you don’t live with
⦿ Renting a self-contained flat or apartment in your landlord’s home

If you are a tenant, you are protected by residential tenancy law which gives you specific rights. Tenants in student accommodation and AHBs have different rights to people renting private accommodation. If you are sub-letting a room, you are not a tenant of the landlord and do not automatically have the same rights as a normal tenant.

What are my rights as a private tenant?

⦿ You are entitled to quiet and exclusive enjoyment of your home
⦿ You are entitled to certain minimum standards of accommodation and a rent book
⦿ You have the right to contact the landlord or their agent at any reasonable time
⦿ Your landlord is only allowed to enter your home with your permission
⦿ You are entitled to be reimbursed for any repairs that you carry out that are the landlord’s responsibility
⦿ You are entitled to have visitors to stay overnight or for short periods, unless specifically forbidden in your tenancy agreement
⦿ You are entitled to a certain amount of notice if your tenancy is being terminated
⦿ You are entitled to at least 90 days’ notice if your landlord wants to review the rent, and there are rules about how often they can do this
⦿ All homes for rent must have a Building Energy Rating (BER), stating how energy-efficient the home is
⦿ You are entitled to refer any disputes to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) without being penalised and you have the right to a copy of any register entry the RTB has about your tenancy

I’m having problems with my landlord, who can help me?
If you are having a problem with your landlord, you should try to resolve it with them first. If you cannot resolve it with them, you can contact the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The RTB has a confidential dispute resolution service for landlords and tenants that involves mediation or adjudication. You do not need legal representation when you take a case with the RTB. You can also contact Threshold for free, confidential advice about your issue with your landlord.

You can find out more about tenant rights here or drop into or call Bray or Arklow Citizens Information Centre.

You can find out more about all of the above, and more, right here, or get in touch your local Citizens Information Centre in Bray by calling 0818076780 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).