“Landlord Advice" is a free advice service for landlords being piloted by Housing Rights on behalf of the Department for Communities (DFC). Its aim is to help landlords comply with their legal requirements and promote good practice by offering free confidential advice and information.
A new report from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) has found that migrants, British citizens without passports and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups living in England are being discriminated against when searching for a home in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), due to the Government’s Right to Rent Scheme.
Officials from the Department for Communities attended our Housing Advice Practitioner’s Forum, to elicit feedback from attendees on their proposals for change to the private rented sector in Northern Ireland.
During the meeting, Department officials outlined the main proposals, which relate to the following key areas:
A new telephone and email helpline service providing residential landlords in Northern Ireland with free confidential advice and information will be available from January 10th 2017.
This briefing considers the need for increased landlord regulation in the private rented sector, examining the need for licensing, best practice experience elsewhere and concludes with key principles which should inform the development of any such proposals.
February 2016 saw the roll out of “right to rent” checks across England. All landlords providing tenancies in England are required to carry out these checks. The aim of the checks is to ensure that any person living in a rental property has the correct permissions to reside in the country and to contribute towards a more “hostile environment” for migrants who are here without the necessary permissions.
Landlord licensing is set to be introduced for HMOs in Northern Ireland following the Assembly’s passing of the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Bill. The Bill is currently awaiting Royal assent.
Although not solely focused on private rented properties, the HMO Bill is seen as a key component in improving regulation and standards within the sector. It is hoped the Bill will provide better protection for tenants living in houses of multiple occupation.
A new telephone and email helpline service providing residential landlords in Northern Ireland with free confidential advice and information will be available from January 10th 2017.
