New private tenancies laws will affect landlords from April 2023

Landlords should be aware that new laws governing private tenancies in Northern Ireland will come into effect from 1 April 2023.

Are you a landlord or tenant in the private rented sector? From 1 April 2023, the law relating to private tenancies is changing.

The laws will affect both landlords and tenants within the private rented sector. While tenants are not required to take any action, they are advised to be aware of how the new law will affect them and their tenancies.

How do the new laws affect landlords?

When the law comes into effect on 1 April, private landlords will be required to take certain actions. From 1 April 2023:

• Landlords must provide tenants with a notice containing tenancy information. This includes for current tenants who have not already received this type of tenancy information.
• Landlords must also provide tenants with a notice of variation when any changes are made to their tenancies.
• Landlords must provide receipts for any cash payment in relation to a tenancy.
• Landlords are only permitted to take or hold on to a tenancy deposit of no more than one month’s rent.
• There will be increased time periods for protecting and providing information on tenancy deposits; and
• Failure to protect a tenancy deposit will become a continuing offence, as the previous six-month time barrier to prosecution of tenancy deposit offence has been removed.

Further information

You can read full details on the Private Tenancies Act.

All private landlords who let a property under a private tenancy should be registered under the Landlord Registration Scheme.

First published 1 March 2023