NEW
RENT BOOKS
The law is changing next week
- The new Housing Order comes into effect from June 1 and from that
date there will be new rent books for private sector tenants that
highlight their rights and responsibilities. The private rented
sector has seen considerable growth in recent years and now represents
7.6pc of all housing. There are around 50,000 private tenancies
In Northern Ireland.
On Your Behalf the Rent Officer for N Ireland explains the changes:
Information supplied by the Department
of Social Development]
A new-style rent book
for private tenants is to be introduced from June 1, as part of
new regulations for landlords and tenants that were contained in
the new Housing (NI) Order 2003.
All private landlords in Northern Ireland have had a legal obligation
to provide their tenants with a rent book since 1978. The new rent
books, as prescribed by the Order, must contain information on the
terms of the tenancy, the basic legal rights of all private tenants
and other information depending on the legal status of the tenancy
concerned.
The new regulations, introduced by the Department for Social Development,
come into force from 1 June 2004.
All private tenants must be provided with a rent book by their landlord,
free of charge. Tenants must make this available to the landlord
(or agent) for updating.
The Housing (NI) Order 2003 gives district councils the power to
enforce these regulations and take legal action where the Rent Book
Regulations are not being complied with. A landlord or agent who
fails to comply with the regulations is guilty of an offence if
rent for the tenancy is demanded or received. On conviction, the
courts can impose a fine of up to £500.
The Department has produced an information leaflet that provides
further information on the regulations. The full text of the regulations
and templates for rent books can be downloaded from the Department’s
website, http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/housing/private-rented-sector.asp
For further information contact your local district council or nearest
independent advice centre.
Useful Contacts
Housing Rights Service
028 9024 5640
ICSTIS
Tel: 0800 500 212 (9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday)
www.icstis.org.uk
|
|
|
|
