New alternatives to traditional tenancy deposits are starting to raise eyebrows in Northern Ireland. These schemes seem attractive at first and appear to offer a more affordable route into renting privately. But, there are drawbacks, so it is important that anyone who is considering using a zero deposit scheme to rent privately gets advice on this option.
Many of the problems which arise during a private tenancy are caused by a lack of awareness from both tenants and landlords about their respective rights and responsibilities. In a bid to make it easier to find information to help resolve common problems, we've developed a new online resource www.SmartRenter.org
Housing Rights and the Chartered Institute of Housing are partnering to hold a joint conference looking at how to most effectively deliver affordable housing in Northern Ireland.
The Tenant Fees Act bans most letting fees in England for new or renewed tenancy agreements entered into on or after 1 June 2019. The Act also places caps on a number of legitimate charges, including the amount that can be requested for a tenancy deposit and the amount that can be charged for amending a tenancy agreement.
Housing Executive research has found that reclassifying the areas used to set benefit levels for private tenants could have serious affordability impacts on young people in Northern Ireland.
