The Department for Communities has announced a delay in the implementation of Sections 1-6 of the Act until 1 April 2023 to give local councils and those affected more time to adjust to the new rules. They were expected to be introduced at the end of December 2022.
The Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 will introduce a range of new requirements for agents and landlords. These are expected to come into force over the next few years gradually. The nature of some of these requirements, such as the introduction of energy efficiency standards and a review of potential powers to freeze rents continue to be debated.
Sections 1-6 of the Act will include the following changes:
Notice periods
The changes to notice to quit periods, however, have already been in place since 5 May 2022.
Landlords must provide tenants with the following notice to end a tenancy:
- Four weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for up to 12 months.
- Eight weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than 12 months but not more than ten years.
- 12 weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than ten years.
Tenants must provide landlords with the following notice in writing to end a tenancy:
- Four weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for up to ten years.
- 12 weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than ten years.
The Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 will introduce a range of new requirements for agents and landlords. These are expected to come into force over the next few years gradually. The nature of some of these requirements, such as the introduction of energy efficiency standards and a review of potential powers to freeze rents continue to be debated.
Sections 1-6 of the Act will include the following changes:
- A new mandatory standardised Essential Tenancy Information Form will be required to be filled in and handed to all new tenants. This information will need to be provided alongside any tenancy agreement.
- The requirement to provide the Essential Tenancy Information Form to tenants whose tenancies were granted between 30 June 2011 and 30 March 2023.
- A requirement for agents and landlords to provide tenants with a written receipt for any payment made in cash by the tenant.
- A tenant’s deposit is limited to one month’s rent.
- Increased time for agents and landlords to comply with the requirements of an approved tenancy deposit scheme and share deposit information with tenants.
- Additional charges for agents and landlords who fail to comply with tenant deposit scheme requirements. They will continue to commit a criminal offence throughout any period after they have been convicted and continue not to comply with deposit scheme requirements.
Notice periods
The changes to notice to quit periods, however, have already been in place since 5 May 2022.
Landlords must provide tenants with the following notice to end a tenancy:
- Four weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for up to 12 months.
- Eight weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than 12 months but not more than ten years.
- 12 weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than ten years.
Tenants must provide landlords with the following notice in writing to end a tenancy:
- Four weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for up to ten years.
- 12 weeks if the tenancy has been in existence for more than ten years.
