Most tenants are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act, and have this protection even if they do not have a written tenancy agreement. This law does not generally protect people living in hostels or hotels or people living with their landlord. You should go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Tenancy Services office to find out if your tenancy is covered by the Act. If it is then your rights are set out there even if you don’t have anything in writing from your landlord. The landlord must give you a written copy of the tenancy agreement before the tenancy starts.