The aim of the Bill from the Executive is to ensure that tenants in the private rented sector are provided with some protection during the crisis. The Executive also wants to reduce the movement of people between households, allowing shielding of vulnerable people, self-isolation, and social distancing in line with the Chief Medical Officer's recommendations.
In Northern Ireland, the private rented sector is the fastest-growing type of housing tenure, with around 18 per cent of the total housing stock and approximately 134,000 properties.
Key provisions of the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Bill
- The Bill temporarily modifies article 14 of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 that prescribes the length of Notice to Quit period by reference to the duration of the tenancy.
- It applies a 12-week Notice to Quit period for all tenancies during the emergency period.
What does this mean?
- For tenancies of fewer than five years, the Notice to Quit period has been increased by eight weeks to 12 weeks.
- For tenancies that are between five and 10 years, the Notice to Quit period has been increased by four weeks to 12 weeks.
- For tenancies of more than 10 years, the Notice to Quit period remains the same.
Time frame
The Department for Communities wishes to protect tenants from eviction during the emergency period that ends on 30 September 2020. However, the Bill gives the Department discretion to specify a shorter or longer period for the end of the emergency period, by regulations and subject to negative resolution for up to two years.
The measures have been introduced under the accelerated passage procedure. No Consultation was carried out due to the urgent need to protect private tenants from eviction and encourage self-isolation.
What will happen next?
The Minister for Communities has requested that the remaining stages of the Bill be scheduled for 28 April 2020. Further updates will be provided to Propertymark members as things develop.
