December 2014

All landlords of properties which are rented out to tenants in Northern Ireland must register their details by the 25 February 2015.

The Department for Social Development, which is responsible for overseeing the private rented sector, is currently promoting the Landlord Registration Scheme throughout Northern Ireland. Any property owners who fail to comply with the scheme may face a fine of up to £2,500.

Back in August, we brought you news of an important and potentially far reaching decision in one of our legal cases.  The case involved some of our Mortgage Debt Advice Service clients who had taken out Bank of Scotland mortgages.  Bank of Scotland appealed the decision, but has now withdrawn this appeal. 

The Department for Social Development (DSD) undertook a consultation exercise earlier this year seeking opinions on its proposed system to require that housing developers make contributions towards affordable housing in Northern Ireland. 

The consultation paper sought respondents views on