Research Paper

A scoping project to inform innovation in future service delivery around accessing and sustaining tenancies in the private rented sector by understanding the practical support needs of low income private tenants.

This Housing Rights research examines the case for the establishment of an independent dispute resolution service for tenants and landlords in Northern Ireland.

The research:

• Reviews relevant policy documents from Northern Ireland and the UK which support improving access to justice;
• Identifies and examines specific good practice ADR case studies from other jurisdictions;
• Gathers expert opinion from those living and working in the PRS in Northern Ireland, as well as housing practitioners and policy makers;
• Assesses the data and makes recommendations for the principles which an ADR system needs to consider, and how that system could function.

The hidden costs of renting private accommodation in Northern Ireland have been revealed in an undercover survey carried out by Housing Rights Service.  A ‘mystery shopping’ survey of 40 lettings agents across Northern Ireland found that upfront fees of as much as £100 were demanded by some agents to cover routine services such as credit checks and general administration costs. This was on top of a deposit (normally one month’s rent) and a month’s rent in advance.