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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Property and housing
    3. Buying, selling and renting a home
    4. Private renting

    Problems with your landlord - how the council can help

    Harassment and illegal eviction are criminal offences. If you experience harassment from your landlord, you should contact the local council's Environmental Health office. They have authority to investigate and can take legal action against a landlord.

    Harassment and unlawful eviction of a tenant

    The local council investigates complaints about landlord harassment or illegal eviction of tenants. They can prosecute landlords for these offences.

    To contact the council in your area, go to:

    • Local councils in Northern Ireland

    Landlord's obligations to a tenant

    All private landlords must register before letting a new tenancy. The council can prosecute a landlord who doesn't give a tenant:

    • a rent book
    • a statement of tenancy terms 

    The council can also prosecute a landlord who:

    • doesn't protect a tenant’s deposit
    • doesn't register as a landlord
    • rents a property to multiple tenants but doesn't license it as a house in multiple occupation

    Landlord registration 

    Landlords must be registered if they rent houses or flats to private tenants.
    If you live in private rented accommodation and want to check your landlord is registered, go to:

    • Search for a landlord

    You can check if they've registered the property you're living in:

    • Search for a property

    Complaining about a landlord

    When the council receives a complaint from a tenant, an Environmental Health officer will investigate. They might ask the landlord to provide information to the tenant. When a landlord won't provide information, the council can prosecute.

    Landlord's obligation to protect your tenancy deposit

    Since 1 April 2013 your landlord must protect a new deposit in one of the approved tenancy deposit schemes within 14 days of receiving the deposit from you.

    Your landlord must also give you specific information about the scheme your deposit is protected in within 28 days of getting the deposit from you.

    The council can fine your landlord if they don't meet their landlord obligations. 

    • Landlord Registration Scheme
    • Tenancy Deposit Scheme - information for tenants
    • Local councils in Northern Ireland
    • Illegal eviction

    More useful links

    • Safety at home
    • Your rights and responsibilities
    • Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 

    More useful links

    • Student housing
    • Home and housing options
    • Safety at Home
    • Fire Prevention
    • Tax on property and rental income - HMRC website
    • Planning for buying a home - Money Advice Service website
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    Private renting

    • Different types of rented accommodation
    • Getting help with problems in private rented housing
    • Health and safety in rented accommodation
    • Housing standards in rented accommodation
    • Landlord Registration Scheme
    • Landlords with tenants claiming Universal Credit
    • Living in shared accommodation
    • Private rent and tenancies
    • Problems with your landlord - how the council can help
    • Rent control
    • Renting a home privately
    • Repairing your home: private tenants
    • Set up direct payment for tenant's housing costs to landlords
    • Tenancy Deposit Scheme

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