Private Rental

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You can rent a home that is not owned by either the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) or a housing association. This is generally known as a private rental.

The tenancy agreement you signed when you first rented the property should outline what repairs you are responsible for and those which the landlord should fix.

If not, since April 2007, The Private Tenancies Order (NI) 2006 makes clear the default legal repair responsibilities that the landlord and tenant have. In very general terms these are listed as:

Landlord

The landlord is responsible for:

  • the structure and exterior of the property
  • the interior of the property (beyond any damage by the tenant)
  • heating appliances

Tenant

The tenant is responsible for:

  • taking care of the premises
  • making good any damage caused
  • keeping the inside of the property in reasonable decorative order

For more information, download A Guide for Private Landlords and Tenants in Northern Ireland (PDF 868 KB) from the Department for Communities.