Rent control
Rent control means there's a maximum rent set on a privately rented property. Rent controlled properties are protected and statutory tenancies and private tenancies starting after 1 April 2007 where the property has been found unfit by an environmental health officer. The Rent Officer for Northern Ireland sets the rent for all rent-controlled tenancies.
Rent-controlled tenancies
There are two types of rent controlled tenancy:
- unfit private tenancies starting after 1 April 2007
- all protected and statutory tenancies
Unfit private tenancies starting after 1 April 2007
A rented property should meet the fitness standard. If it does not meet this standard it is classed as unfit.
Where a district council inspects a private tenancy and finds it is unfit, the Rent Officer will be notified and will work out the maximum rent the landlord can charge.
This rent will apply until the property is made fit and a Certificate of Fitness is issued.
- Rent Officer for Northern Ireland
- Checking your home is fit to live in
- Information on Rent Controlled Tenancies
Fitness inspections
Since 1 April 2007, landlords of all new private tenancies, if the property to be rented was built before 1945, must request a fitness inspection be carried out by environmental health officers from the local council.
Where an environmental health officer inspects a private tenancy and finds it is unfit, the Rent Officer will be notified and will work out the maximum rent the landlord can charge.
This rent will apply until the property is made fit and a certificate of fitness is issued.
The landlord is responsible for applying for a fitness inspection. A tenant can re-apply if a certificate of fitness was issued on the property but the property becomes unfit.
Properties that don't need a fitness inspection
A property doesn't need a fitness inspection if:
- it was built after 1945 (this is the age of the building, not the age of any later conversion)
- it is currently registered with the local council as a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
For information about houses in multiple occupation, go to:
For a list of properties that are rent-controlled, check the online Rent Register.
Protected and statutory tenancies
If your tenancy started before 1 April 2007, you may have a protected or statutory tenancy.
This type of tenancy offers the most security against eviction and rent increases. The type of tenancy you have depends on when the tenancy started.
Rent control applies to protected and statutory tenancies.