COVID 19 – Extension to Legislation on Eviction Notice

New regulations came into operation on 29 September 2021 - The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) (No.2) Regulations (NI) 2021 which further ensures private tenants are protected from eviction during the Covid 19 pandemic and which requires landlords to give 12 weeks’ notice to quit to their tenants.

This protection has been extended and now remains in place until the 4 May 2022.

Find out more

The Private Tenancies Bill

The Private Tenancies Bill was agreed by the Executive on 24 June and completed First Stage of the legislative process on Tuesday 6 July. The Bill aims to improve the safety, security and quality of the Private Rented Sector with the intention that the legislation will make this sector a safer and more secure housing option for people living in it by improving the standards and conditions.

Key proposals in the Bill include:

· Tenants to be given notice relating to the tenancy

· Tenant to be given notice regarding certain past matters

· Tenant to be provided with a rent receipt for payment in cash

· Limit on tenancy deposit amount; breach of tenancy deposit limit; recoverability of excess.

· Tenancy deposit schemes: time limits

· Certain offences in connection with tenancy deposits to be continuing offences

· Restriction on rent increases

· Fire, smoke and carbon monoxide

· Energy Efficiency Regulations

· Electrical safety standards Regulations

· Notice to Quit

The Private Tenancies Bill was introduced in the Assembly on 6 July

A Second Stage debate to allow the Assembly to discuss the general principles of the Bill was completed on 13 September and the Bill has now been referred to the Committee for Communities for their scrutiny.

Universal Credit Update

Universal Credit tenants – housing cost payments when your tenant moves home

Universal Credit housing costs are calculated at the end of each assessment period, based on your tenant’s circumstances at that date. If your tenant moves home, the housing costs will be paid to the landlord whose details are held by Universal Credit at the end of that assessment period. The housing costs can only be paid to one landlord and no part payments are possible. Any discrepancy in rent payment is between the landlord and their tenant to resolve.
For further information see nidirect.

nidirect

Landlord Advice

The Landlord Advice line is a free service for Landlords who have registered with the Landlord Registration Scheme and callers must have their Landlord registration number to hand when making a call.

Landlord Advice is available between 9.30am – 2.30pm Monday to Friday.

Call 028 90 245640 and pick option 5.

Below is a link to case studies on the Landlord Advice website:

Landlord Advice

Landlord Registration Scheme

There has been a drop in the numbers of landlords registering on the above scheme. This year has been a renewal year for a number of landlords when the 3 year registrations have expired.

If you are one of those landlords who have not re-registered, or indeed not registered at all, please do so now in line with the law.

If you are not registered in line with the law you are committing an offence and may be fined or prosecuted through the courts.

The Department is undertaking work to identify those who still continue to let houses but have not registered.

Please see below information available on NI Direct on how to register -

Landlords who need to register

All landlords who let properties under a private tenancy in Northern Ireland must register. You must provide accurate and up-to-date information about yourself and your properties.

Register as a landlord or renew your landlord registration

Central register of private landlords

There is one register of private landlords and registered rented properties. A central register of private landlords:

allows tenants, neighbours and local councils to identify if landlords are registered
provides information on the number of landlords in Northern Ireland and allows landlords to receive regular updates on the duties and responsibilities of landlords and tenants
provides education and support to landlords

It improves tenants’ confidence in their landlords and increase landlords’ accountability by:

promoting good practice
ensuring the right advice and help is available

Housing Rights Mediation Service

Housing problems are sometimes caused by disagreements and bad relationships. Mediation is a way of solving these kinds of problems. A trained mediator will help you and the person you are in a dispute with to come to an agreement. The mediator will help you to have honest and open conversations. The mediator is there to help both sides of a dispute talk and listen to each other in the hopes of solving the problem. The mediator is not there to judge or to say who is right and who is wrong.

Housing Rights can mediate disputes about private rented housing. This is a free service.

This service is for private tenants, private landlords and letting agents in Northern Ireland. But, you will only be able to use this service if

· the dispute is about a private tenancy

· the landlord of the tenancy is registered

Housing Advice NI

Information and guidance on nidirect

The nidirect website brings together lots of information from government departments and agencies. It provides information and services on many topics including buying, selling or renting a home, your neighbourhood, rates, building regulations, homelessness and evictions.

Visit nidirect