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For landlords

Advice and information for landlords in Northern Ireland

Key advice areas

Getting started as a landlord

Whether you're starting out or have been renting for years, understanding your responsibilities as a landlord reduces the risk of problems. 

Preparing to rent

There's a lot to prepare before your tenants move in. Find out what documents you must give new tenants and how to set up a tenancy. 

Rent and rates

Being clear on rent and rates payments from the start avoids problems. Find out how to deal with rent arrears and manage rates. 

Deposits

Deposits can cover damage or arrears at the end of a tenancy. Find out about how to protect a deposit and deal with disputes. 

Social security benefits

Claiming benefits can help your tenants to pay rent. Find out about benefits payments and how to deal with any problems. 

Repairs

Carrying out repairs quickly keeps tenants happy and protects your property. Be clear on your legal obligations and what you're responsible for fixing.  

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)

HMOs must be licensed and meet higher standards than other private rentals. Make sure you understand the extra requirements for a landlord of a HMO. 

Problems with tenants

You may have problems with some tenants. Being aware of some common problems can help you to avoid matters getting out of hand. 

Ending a tenancy

You must follow the proper process to end a tenancy. Find out how much notice to give and when you need to go to court.  

Help and support for landlords

Information for landlords on agencies that can offer help and support. Find out about mediation, grants and getting help from Landlord Advice. 

Contact Landlord Advice

Our advisers are available from 9:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday. Find out how to get advice by phone or email. 

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Latest news

An unsigned tenancy agreement sits on a wooden table

Leaving a private tenancy early

At Housing Rights, we often hear from tenants who want to leave a private rented property before their contract ends. This can be for various reasons like, needing to move for work or struggling to get repairs carried out. 

11 November 2024
Faith Westwood — Practitioner Support Officer
Private tenants Tenancy agreement Deposit Landlord
Tenancy agreement with key

Tenant rights when landlord wants to sell

Our advisers have noted an increase in the number of people contacting us for help because their home is being sold by their private landlord. 

23 October 2024
Tenancy agreement Tenancy
Row of terraced houses in the snow

The human cost of the Local Housing Allowance freeze

Our Policy Coordinator, Stephen Morrison, writes about how frozen Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates have impacted private renters across Northern Ireland. 

Housing Rights urges the UK Government to stop freezing thousands of people out of sustainable homes this winter, by urgently unfreezing LHA and realigning it back to minimum the 30th percentile of affordability.

21 November 2023
Stephen Morrison — Policy Coordinator
Benefits Local housing allowance Private tenants

How we help landlords

Call centre staff on phone

Help when a notice to quit is deemed invalid

Landlords and tenants both must follow the correct process to end a tenancy. Find out how we were able to advise a landlord on his responsibilities regarding a notice to quit. 

Landlord
person in a call centre wearing a headset

Deciding whether to rent a property as furnished or unfurnished

Landlords need to consider some practicalities when renting out a property. This includes deciding whether to rent it as furnished or unfurnished. 

 

 

Landlord
helpline worker

Managing a tenancy after a tenant passes away

A tenancy does not automatically end when someone passes away. 

We recently advised a landlord on how to navigate the situation after their tenant sadly passed away.  

Landlord