Fact sheet: Landlord Registration Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

Two separate investigations in Camden and Mansfield involving unlicensed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) led to sanctions for landlords and agents. West Northamptonshire is the latest council to announce a crackdown on unregulated and poorly managed properties.

On 1 April 2019, the Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 comes into force and landlords must have a valid licence for each HMO they own.

When a tenant reports an issue at a rental property, the response of letting agents is vital for maintaining positive relationships between everyone involved. Quick and effective handling of these problems not only keeps tenants happy, but also helps prevent possible deposit disputes, which can cause stress and delays at the end of the tenancy. Here, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme provides guidance on how to manage tenant-reported issues at the property, fostering good relationships and avoiding deposit disputes over repairs.

Although the economic outlook remains mixed, the quarter ended with inflation in line with the Bank of England’s target, a precursor to a long-awaited reduction in the base rate. Our agents are bullish regarding capital values and rent levels in key sectors including the Industrial and Land and Yards sectors where demand continues to outstrip supply.