News
Landlords and Tenant Should Be Aware of New Law
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
New laws that will impact on all private landlords and
tenants in Northern Ireland came into force on 1 April 2007.
The Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is
aimed at reducing unacceptably high levels of unfitness
and disrepair in the sector; reducing inequalities between
tenure type and clarifying landlord and tenant obligations/duties.
It will reward the efforts of landlords who provide good
quality housing for their tenants and remove restrictions
that could hamper the development of such housing.
In North Down there are around 2,500 tenancies that will
be impacted by the new laws, which will be enforced by North
Down Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department.
Renee Quinn, Environmental Health Officer with the Council,
comments, “The private rented sector is playing
an increasingly significant role in the Northern Ireland
housing market. Due to rising house prices and a shortage
of social housing, this form of tenure is no longer a short-term
option for many people. However, there is a range of problems
common to the sector including affordability, unfair tenancy
agreements, lack of awareness of rights and obligations,
etc. This new legislation will make a significant difference
on these issues.”
Some of the main features of the Order are:
- New tenancies will be defined according to their fitness
for human habitation—an unfit tenancy will be subject
to rent control (the level set can be changed) until it
is made fit.
- Environmental Health Officers will inspect tenancies and
have been given new powers to ensure that unfitness and
serious disrepair are addressed.
- Controlled rents will be based on a number of factors
including the condition of the property, the equivalent
Housing Executive rent for a similar dwelling and the general
level of rents in the area. The Rent Officer for Northern
Ireland will set the level of rent.
- As well as having rent books, new tenants will have to
be supplied with a written statement of the terms of their
tenancy. Where a tenancy agreement fails to clarify repairing
obligations, the law will provide default terms.
Renee continues, “The Private Tenancies Order
will mean changes for both landlords and tenants and both
should make sure they are up to speed with the new legislation.
North Down Borough Council will be running information seminars
for local landlords next month but in the meantime anyone
with questions or concerns should contact the Council’s
Environmental Health Department.”
Environmental Health can be contacted on (028) 9127 0371
or renee.quinn@northdown.gov.uk
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