Landlord requirements in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the rhythm is an annual gas safety certificate, an electrical report every five years, landlord registration every three years and, for HMOs, a five-year council licence, alongside deposit protection and alarm rules.
Legal requirements
| Requirement | How often | Who does it | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Safety Certificate (CP12 / LGSR) | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA Gas Safe registered engineer | Applies toRented properties with a gas supply (natural gas or LPG) |
| Landlord Registration Scheme | How oftenEvery 3 years | Who does itThe landlord (or their agent) | Applies toEvery rented property |
| Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) | How oftenEvery 5 years | Who does itA registered, qualified electrician | Applies toEvery rented property |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | How oftenValid for 10 years | Who does itAn accredited EPC assessor | Applies toEvery rented property |
| HMO chimney and flue cleaning | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties that are houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), and with a solid-fuel appliance (a stove or open fire) |
| HMO fire risk assessment | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties that are houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) |
| HMO portable appliance testing (PAT) | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA registered, qualified electrician | Applies toRented properties that are houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) |
| HMO licence | How oftenEvery 5 years | Who does itThe landlord (or their agent) | Applies toRented properties that are houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) |
| Carbon monoxide alarms | How oftenNo fixed renewal date | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties with a gas supply (natural gas or LPG), or with oil-fired heating, or with a solid-fuel appliance (a stove or open fire) |
| Certificate of fitness (pre-1945 property) | How oftenNo fixed renewal date | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties that are not HMOs, and built before 1945 |
| Smoke and heat alarms | How oftenNo fixed renewal date | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toEvery rented property |
| Tenancy deposit protection | How oftenNo fixed renewal date | Who does itThe landlord (or their agent) | Applies toEvery rented property |
| Tenancy Information Notice | How oftenNo fixed renewal date | Who does itThe landlord (or their agent) | Applies toEvery rented property |
Rules to follow
The law, but with no certificate and no renewal date. Listed so nothing is missed.
| Requirement | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Rent increases: frequency and notice | Applies toEvery rented property |
Good practice
No certificate or interval is fixed by law, but these are recommended, and often what an insurer or an inspector will ask to see.
| Requirement | How often | Who does it | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney sweep / solid-fuel appliance service | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties that are not HMOs, and with a solid-fuel appliance (a stove or open fire) |
| Oil boiler service | How oftenEvery 12 months | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toRented properties with oil-fired heating |
| Legionella risk assessment | How oftenEvery 2 years | Who does itA suitably competent person | Applies toEvery rented property |
Common questions
How many legal requirements does a landlord have in Northern Ireland?
13 in all, but no single property has to meet every one. 6 apply to every rented property in Northern Ireland. The other 7 depend on the property: whether it has a gas supply, has oil-fired heating, has a solid-fuel appliance, was built before 1945 or is a house in multiple occupation (an HMO).
Which landlord requirements come round most often in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland the requirements on a repeating cycle are: Gas Safety Certificate (CP12 / LGSR), every 12 months; Landlord Registration Scheme, every 3 years; Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), every 5 years. A house in multiple occupation adds: HMO chimney and flue cleaning, every 12 months; HMO fire risk assessment, every 12 months; HMO portable appliance testing (PAT), every 12 months; HMO licence, every 5 years.
What is good practice rather than law in Northern Ireland?
No certificate or interval is fixed by law for these in Northern Ireland, but they are recommended: chimney sweep / solid-fuel appliance service, legionella risk assessment and oil boiler service.
Letting on the other side of the border? See the rules for the Republic of Ireland.
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