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The Minister for the Environment has made regulations under the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982 amending the provisions in the Housing (Rent Tribunal) Regulations, 1983, regarding the awarding of costs and expenses by the Rent Tribunal.

The Rent Tribunal was established in August, 1983 under Section 2 of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) (Amendment) Act, 1983 to replace the District Court as the arbitrating body for determining terms of tenancy of dwellings which were formerly controlled under the Rent Restrictions Acts.

The new regulations, known as the Housing (Rent Tribunal) Regulations, 1983, (Amendment) Regulations, 1988, came into force on 1^st July 1988 and will apply to applications received by the Tribunal on or after that date. The main provision of the regulations allows the Rent Tribunal to make awards in cases where applications are determined without an oral hearing. Formerly, costs could be awarded only in respect of oral hearings. Also, the Rent Tribunal will have more discretion in making awards in any case. The new provisions will ensure a more balanced and equitable treatment of parties in written cases where, very often, costs similar to those in oral cases are incurred.