In the property market, it seems likely that more people will be forced to rent accommodation although some are now paying more in rent per month than many mortgage-holders. Tenants do have rights and privileges under Irish law, despite not owning the property.

If a single person rents accommodation, they are entitled to £500 (€634) tax relief at 24 per cent. This must be applied for separately by sending Revenue the landlord's name and address on a tax office form.

The landlord's RSI number is no longer required, says Threshold, an organisation dedicated to the improvement of household conditions.

Uptake is low on this tax relief but Threshold is hoping the Government will increase the relief amount. Mortgage holders receive relief on their repayments and now that tenants' rents are higher, the figure of £500 seems paltry by comparison, says Threshold's head of policy Ms Clodagh Memery. The organisation is hoping for a tax relief figure for tenants closer to £1,000, she said.

Rent relief becomes problematic if the landlord is not usually resident in Ireland. A clause exists in Irish tax legislation - under section 1041 of the Taxes Consolidation Act - that requires tenants of landlords who live abroad to withhold income tax at the standard rate of 24 per cent of the rent being paid.

This amount should then be passed on to Revenue. If the tenant fails to do so, they are then liable for the tax. Responsibility for this "withholding tax" falls on a letting agent if they handled the property. In many cases, renters may not know their landlord lives abroad if the rent is sent to an Irish address or handled through a management agency.

Revenue says it looks upon each case individually and if a tenant can establish that he or she was not familiar with the legislation or did not know that the landlord lived abroad, the situation will be viewed sympathetically.

Landlords are also required to register each unit of property every year. Unfortunately, lack of registration enforcement by local authorities means there are few real checks on unscrupulous landlords. Threshold has said only 20 per cent of rented properties are registered and many of those who have filed in the past are failing to re-register.

Certain minimum standards of accommodation are required under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. A landlord must: ensure that the property is in a state of structural repair; provide a sink with hot and cold water; provide toilet and bath or shower facilities; provide a means for heating and for installing cooking equipment and storing food.

Other requirements include the maintenance of electricity or gas installations, common facilities for cooking, food storage, toilets, sinks, baths and showers. Proper ventilation and lighting are required in each room. A secure handrail is also required for any common stairway.

It is essential to get a lease as tenants without one are only entitled to four weeks' notice when asked to vacate the premises.

Landlords should have public liability insurance although there is no law requiring them to do so. Without it they may be personally financially liable for any accidents occurring on their properties.

Tenants who take any expensive items like computers, stereos or bicycles into their accommodation should consider taking out home contents insurance to guard against theft or damage.

It is very difficult to get contents insurance if you live in older accommodation with multiple units sharing a front door, such as an apartment, or have a number of flatmates. Insurers view these conditions as a high security risk.

Newer homes and flats are considered lower risk because security precautions are built into the schemes. Insurers have no problem providing contents cover for couples or families.

"The rental sector as a whole is not a problem, it's a sharing situation that's problematic," says an Irish Insurance Federation spokesman. The IIF suggests that those living with a number of people or in a multiple unit should ask the landlord's building insurer for contents cover. Otherwise, contact a good insurance broker. Some insurance companies only offer contents insurance to sole tenants, couples or families. In the Dublin area, prices may be as low as £55 per annum for minimum £10,000 cover for this category.

Last year, insurance broker HSBC Gobbs McDowell offered a contents insurance policy designed for students. It had no security requirements and cost between £39 to £59. The higher premium was for students living off campus in shared or multiple unit housing. The policy covered fire and theft including items students usually have in their accommodation. Due to low take up, the policy was discontinued but if demand is demonstrated it may reoffer the product.