Landlord registration up and running

In a long awaited development private landlords in Northern Ireland are now required to provide information about themselves and their properties.

From 25th February, every private landlord in Northern Ireland must register with the Landlord Registration Scheme and provide this information - elements of which is available on government website NI Direct. 

Landlords must register immediately prior to the letting of a new tenancy, or where there is an existing tenancy, within 12 months from 25 February 2014. Registration will last for a period of 3 years at the end of which landlords must re-register.

Letting and management agents can register on a landlord’s behalf but it is ultimately the responsibility of landlords, not agents, to ensure that they are registered.

If a landlord fails to register, or provides false information for registration, he or she can be issued with a fixed penalty of up to £500 or, on summary conviction, can be fined up to £2,500. Local councils will enforce the scheme.

Aims of the Landlord Registration Scheme

The landlord registration scheme has a number of aims. These are to:

• Improve private renting in Northern Ireland;
• Allow tenants, neighbours and local councils to identify landlords and management agents of private rented property, and;
• Provide information on the scale and distribution of the private rented sector in Northern Ireland.

Housing Rights Service has been campaigning for the introduction of this facility for many years but believes that the scheme developed by the Department for Social Development (DSD) is quite limited. For example, there is no requirement for landlords to acknowledge their legal obligations nor does it require them to disclose relevant criminal convictions as is the case in Scotland. Nevertheless we welcome this initiative and will be working with stakeholders to publicise the scheme.

What information is available through the registration website?

Unfortunately only limited information will be available to members of the public through the website.  Details will be made available if you have details of the landlord’s name. On entering a landlord’s name a member of the public will be able to find out whether they are registered or not.

How can landlords or agents register?

Registration can be completed:

• By contributing details to the website 
• By  calling the contact centre where an agent will register the details ; or
• By downloading a registration form or collecting a form from a local post office/ jobs and benefits office or calling the contact centre who will post out a form.

The registration process will cost £70 for online users and £80 for manual or paper based users.

The information required includes:

• The landlord’s full name;
• The landlord’s address, email address, and telephone number (including mobile number);
• The name, address and contact number of any agent acting for the landlord.

For each property the following information is required:

• The address (including the postcode);
• The date the property was built;
• The name and contact details of all joint owners;
• The correspondence address for the landlord (which must be in Northern Ireland) if different from above;
• The landlord’s date of birth.

Where the landlord is registered under the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Registration Scheme, no registration payment will be required but the following information is needed:

• The HMO registrations certificate number;
• The address of each House in Multiple Occupation;
• The company registration number, if the landlord is constituted as a company.

In addition landlords will be asked to provide some information on a voluntarily basis. This may include:

• The number of reception rooms and bedrooms;
• The type of heating;
• Details of any window glazing/doors type;
• Details on energy performance, and;
• Whether the landlord would consider longer term / more secure leasing arrangements.

Where appropriate, this information may be published for the assistance of landlords and tenants.  However no individual or group will be identifiable from any information published. A free Landlord’s ‘toolkit’ or information guide will be issued to registered landlords.

Making changes to the register

While there is no legislative requirement for the landlord/agent to update his details after registration they will be asked to ensure that the information provided on the register is up to date. No fee will be charged for making amendments to the register.

Further information

NI Direct has published information on the scheme in February. Housing Rights Service will be also has information on its advice site. 

Training Courses

If you want to find out more about Landlord registration then attend one of our upcoming courses.

Cookstown