What can we do about the misplaced deeds to family home? The deeds to my parent's house seem to have gone astray. My late father brought them home when the mortgage was paid and we are not sure where he put them. Is there anything that can be done?

The Registry of Deeds holds a record of all deeds lodged with it. Called a "memorial" it is secondary evidence of the contents of the deed. You can obtain a copy of the memorial to replace your lost or misplaced deed. You should however not that a memorial does not have the same legal effect as a deed. Each memorial has a record number and you can find this by doing a search on your name at the Registry of Deeds.

A certified copy can be obtained for €12 and a plain copy can be obtained at 50 cent per page. You don't say what you want a copy of the deeds for but, if you are considering selling the house, then you should consult a solicitor about the missing deed.

For further information, contact the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, tel 01-6707500, LoCall: 1890 333001.

Tenant rights when a landlord wants to increase the rent

We have rented the same apartment since April 2004. The landlord now wants to increase the rent by €80 per month - he has not set foot in the apartment in all that time and any improvements, painting, new tiles in the bathroom, etc, have been carried out by us at our own expense (although with his permission). We want to stay in this apartment but feel that this is unfair. Do we have any rights?

The general rule is that after each 12 months of a tenancy, tenants, as well as landlords, can seek a rent review.

Reviews can take place no more frequently than once a year unless there has been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation in the interim. Tenants must be informed in writing about a new rent at least 28 days before it is to take effect. As you feel that the price hike is unfair you should refer the matter to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

However, you must act quickly as you need to contact the PRTB before the new rent is due to take effect or within 28 days from receipt of the notice whichever is the later. Contact the Private Residential Tenancies Board, Canal House, Canal Road, Dublin 6, tel 01-8882960, or visit www.prtb.ie.

On another matter, in future if you are considering a bit of DIY, it is not unreasonable to expect the landlord to at least pay for materials when you upgrade his apartment, perhaps not for paint, but tiling does significantly improve a bathroom.