Renting privately

Renting privately is more flexible than other forms of housing. You can move into a place quickly and rent for a short period.  There are lots of things to consider if you're thinking about renting privately, which is why we've created a whole new subsite which deals solely with advice for tenants and landlords.

Looking for a new home

Renting privately is more flexible than other forms of housing. You can move into a place quickly and rent for a short period. Renting privately can be expensive and availability can vary widely. Your rights as a tenant depend on your type of tenancy. More

Before you sign

Don't jump into a new tenancy.  There are a few things which you should consider seriously before you sign anything.  It's incredibly difficult to extract yourself from a tenancy once you've signed the contract.  More

Taking on a new tenancy

Once you've found somewhere you'd like to live and have agreed the terms with your landlord or agent you'll want to make plans to move in. If you've told the landlord or agent that you are moving in on condition that they carry out certain repairs or decorative work, make sure you get a commitment to do this in writing. More

Your rights

All private tenants have some basic legal rights.  Protected tenants are tenants who have been renting their property since before April 2007 and whose properties meet certain criteria  More

Rent and rates

You must pay rent to your landlord in return for living in the property.  If you stop paying your rent, are late with a payment or do not pay in full, your landlord may begin eviction proceedings against you.  More

Housing benefit for private tenants

If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent. Most people who rent privately have their entitlement to housing benefit worked out under a system called Local Housing Allowance. More

Repairs

You should report any damage or disrepair to your landlord immediately.  It's always a good idea to follow up any reports you make over the phone or in person with a letter so both you and your landlord have a record of any work that needs to be done. More

Sharing and Houses in Multiple Occupation

Sharing a rented home can work out really well. It makes things a lot cheaper, but can also bring its own problems. More

Harassment

Your landlord may try to force you to move out by harassing you. Your landlord may be doing this so s/he won't have to follow the proper procedure for evicting you . Your landlord could be guilty of a criminal offence if s/he is harassing you. More

Your neighbourhood

Once you've moved into your new home, you'll want to start getting to know the neighbourhood. If problems arise in the neighbourhood, your landlord may not be able to offer much assistance, but other organisations may be able to help. More

Ending a tenancy

There are several ways of ending a tenancy. How you do this depends on whether or not you have a current tenancy agreement. If you’re planning on moving out, you should keep your landlord informed. More

Protected tenancies

Some tenancies in Northern Ireland have greater protection in law. These are known as protected tenancies. To be a protected tenant, your tenancy must meet certain specific criteria More

Other problems

Like any other housing arrangement, sometimes problems will crop up in your rental agreement. Advice agencies like Housing Rights Service can provide you with information and advice on most housing problems. More