Restrictions have been placed on how often landlords can increase rent in the private rented sector. Section 7 of the Private Tenancies Act (NI) 2022 will come into place from 1 April 2025. The Minister for Communities announced the changes were being made to support private tenants struggling with rent affordability.
Rent increase restrictions
From 1 April 2025, private landlords can only increase rent charges once in a 12-month period.
Landlords cannot increase rent within:
- 12 months of a tenancy starting or
- 12 months following the date of the last rent increase
Written notice
Landlords must give their tenants a 3-month written notice of the rent increase.
Landlords can use a Notice of Variation to inform tenants of the rent increase.
This requirement only applies to rent increases that are made from 1 April 2025.
More frequent rent increases
Department for Communities Guidance confirms that if a landlord tries to increase the rent more than once in any 12-month period the:
- tenant is under no obligation to pay a second rent increase
- landlord’s action has no legal effect
- rent remains unchanged.
More frequent rent increases cannot be enforced in court, and landlords should not harass tenants into paying.
If you are a tenant and need more information or advice about rent increase restrictions, please contact Housing Rights .
If you are a landlord and want to know more about rent increase restrictions, please contact Landlord Advice
