Newsletter 29 | March 2022
Welcome to our latest edition of the Private Rented Sector Landlord Newsletter.
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, thus removing the threat of eviction.
This protection has been extended and now remains in place until 4 May 2022.
The Private Tenancies Bill
The Private Tenancies Bill completed the Final stage of its legislative journey in the Assembly on 15 March 2022. It will now go for Royal Assent at which point it will become law.
This urgent piece of legislation increases protections for tenants living in the private rented sector in areas such as safety checks, rent increases, notice to quit periods and deposits and lays the groundwork for further improvements in energy efficiency. Commencement of some of the Clauses contained in the Bill will follow after Royal Assent. Some elements of the Bill will require Regulations to be made to come into effect.
This Bill is just the beginning and work to ensure rents are fair across all tenures, letting agent regulation, review of the fitness standards across all tenures and consideration of grounds for eviction will be taken forward in phase 2 of Private Rented Sector reform.
You can examine the progress of the Private Tenancies Bill and all associated documents via the button below.
Universal Credit Update
Third Party Deductions
It has come to the attention of the Universal Credit team that some landlords are using an incorrect form to request Third Party Deductions from Universal Credit.
The correct form to be used is the Universal Credit Third Party Payments Creditor / Supplier Handbook as in the link below.
Chartered Institute of Housing
Level 2 Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property
The CIH Level 2 Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property provides a general introduction to the roles and responsibilities of private landlords and letting agents. The qualification provides the skills and knowledge to enable landlords and agents working in the market-rented sector in Northern Ireland to perform their role at a high standard. You will study tenancies and the law, property and tenancy management, and customer care. This programme is online which means you get total flexibility to study when and where works for you. Get access to a full set of online learning tools, including study materials written by our team of specialist authors, links to useful websites and resources, and access to forums where you can share your thoughts and ideas with other learners, including students from England and Wales. For more information and upcoming course dates, please visit the link below.
Landlord Registration Scheme
There has been a drop in the numbers of landlords registering on the above scheme. Last year was a renewal year for a number of landlords when the 3 year registrations 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.
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
Electrical Safety First
Electrical Safety First is a UK wide charity committed to reducing the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by electricity in domestic settings. Their activities include working with tenants and landlords to reduce fires, deaths and accidents in the home by offering a range of tools, expert information and advice to help people protect themselves from electrical risk.
For guidance on safety around the home and product safety:
Guidance | Electrical Safety First
To read their report – Recharge – Renewing Electrical Safety for Northern Ireland’s Homes:
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.
The Essential Guide to Dispute Resolution
Advice from Letting Protection Service NI (LPSNI), one of the tenancy deposit scheme administrators approved by the department.
Heater Cluster – Heat solutions for rural areas
The details below have not been organised by the Department for Communities. For further information on these details you should contact HEATER at the following link.
https://heater.interreg-npa.eu/
Heat and energy Education and Empowerment for Rural Areas
HEATER is a cluster of projects with synergies across HANDIHEAT, SMARTRenew, TechSolns, SENDoc and eLightHouse. The partnership with WiSAR Lab, Letterkenny Institute of Technology (SMARTRenew project), Ulster University (SENDoc/TechSolns), Oulu University of Applied Sciences and HANDIHEAT, Northern Ireland Housing Executive aims to collaborate and cluster the transnational outputs from previous projects to educate and empower local communities to effect positive behavioural change and inform decision makers to influence policy across climate change mitigation and adaptation and sustaining communities.
Further Information:
To find out more details and to keep up to date with the HEATER project, please visit the website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
