Housing Information for Landlords

Landlord Registration Scheme

All private landlords must register with the Department for Communities Landlord Registration Scheme.

Registration lasts three years. You must re-register after each three-year period.

It costs £80, but if you register online, you get a £10 discount.

The Council enforces the Scheme. If a landlord does not register or gives false information, they can be fined up to £500.
You could also be taken to court and fined up to £2,500.

For more advice, visit: http://www.housingadviceni.org or call Housing Rights on 028 9024 5640.

How to Register

• Register online: landlordregistrationni.gov.uk/home
• Call 0300 200 7821 to request a form
• Or collect a form from our Newry or Downpatrick offices

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

A tenancy deposit is money a tenant pays at the start of a rental. It protects against damage or unpaid rent.

• The deposit must be protected within 14 days.
• The tenant must be told about it within 28 days.
• All schemes are free to use.
• If you do not follow these rules, you could be fined up to three times the deposit amount or prosecuted in court (fine up to £20,000).

Types of Scheme

There are two types of deposit scheme:

Custodial Scheme: the scheme holds the deposit until the tenancy ends.
Insurance Scheme: the landlord keeps the deposit but pays a fee or insurance premium to protect it.

Who Runs the Scheme?

The Department for Communities has approved three scheme administrators:

1. My Deposits
2. The Dispute Service NI
3. Letting Protection Service Northern Ireland.

Enforcement

The Council enforces the scheme for all private rentals in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.

More information is available on NI Direct website.

Tenancy Statements

If a tenancy started after April 2007, you must give a tenancy statement. It must include all details listed in the Tenancy Terms Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.

If you don’t give one within 28 days, the law assumes a six-month tenancy has been created. You must follow default repair rules under the Private Tenancy (NI) Order 2006.

For more details, visit Housing Advice NI.

Inspections for Landlords

If you plan to carry out repairs to your rental property, you can ask the Council to serve a Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice. This may allow you to apply for a NI Housing Executive (NIHE) Repair Grant to help with costs.

A notice is issued when disrepair causes health problems, such as damp or rot. The notice will tell you what work must be done.

The NIHE grant goes to the owner or agent and depends on the Net Annual Valuation (NAV) of the property. It is not means-tested.

To qualify, contact us before starting any work. You may lose eligibility if you start repairs before inspection. You should also contact Building Control to check if approval is needed.

If a property is found unfit to live in, we may issue a Notice of Unfitness. This does not qualify for a grant. If the property was built before 1945, we will notify the Rent Office, and the rent may be reduced.

We may also issue a Notice of Disrepair, which gives a set time for repairs. This only qualifies for grant aid if the tenancy is protected or statutory under the Rent Order (NI) 1978.

Certificate of Fitness

If your property was built before 1945 and a new tenancy began after April 2007, you may need a Certificate of Fitness.

Fee

A Certificate of Fitness inspection costs £50. This fee is non-refundable.

Re-application for an inspection is £100.

The tenant will receive a copy of the information you provide.

You must apply within 28 days of the tenancy start date. It is an offence not to return the form within this time.

You can download the form and post it with payment (cheques payable to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council). For help, call 0330 137 4024.

You do not need a Certificate if:

• The house was built after 1 January 1945
• You own and live in the property
• The tenancy began before April 2007
• A renovation or HMO grant was paid in the last 10 years
• It is registered for multiple occupancy with NIHE
• A regulated rent certificate was issued in the last 10 years

All fees are non-refundable.

Timescales and Inspections

It can take up to one month for inspection. We must contact the tenant first for written permission.

If the tenant does not reply, we must wait 28 days before arranging the inspection. After that, we will contact the tenant, landlord, or agent to gain access.

If the property is fit, we will give a Certificate of Fitness. If it is unfit, we will send a notice of refusal explaining what repairs are needed.

Once repairs are  finished, you can re-apply for another inspection.

Contact Details

ehealth@nmandd.org

Telephone: 0330 137 4024