The Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Particulars relating to the tenancy, etc.

Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters

4.—(1) Where, on or after the commencement of this Order, a private tenancy of a dwelling-house is granted, the landlord under the tenancy shall, within 28 days after the date on which the tenancy is granted, give to the tenant a notice in such form, and containing such particulars and other information relating to the tenancy, as may be prescribed.

(2) Where, on or after the commencement of this Order, a prescribed term of a private tenancy of a dwelling-house is varied, the landlord under the tenancy shall, within 28 days after the date on which the term of the tenancy is varied, give to the tenant a notice in such form, and containing such information relating to the variation of the term, as may be prescribed.

(3) Paragraph (2) applies whether the private tenancy was granted before or after the commencement of this Order, and in that paragraph “varied” includes varied by omission.

(4) A tenant shall not be required to make a payment in respect of any notice under this Article.

(5) A landlord who fails to comply with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence under this Order.

Tenant to be provided with a rent book

5.—(1) The landlord of a dwelling-house let under a private tenancy shall, within 28 days after the date on which the tenancy is granted, provide the tenant with a rent book for use in respect of the dwelling-house.

(2) A rent book–

(a) shall be used to maintain a written record of rent and other payments made in respect of a tenancy, and

(b) shall contain such particulars and information relating to the tenancy as may be prescribed.

(3) A tenant shall not be required to make a payment in respect of the provision of a rent book.

(4) If the landlord under a private tenancy fails to comply with paragraph (1), he and, subject to paragraph (6), any person who on his behalf demands or receives rent in respect of the dwelling-house held under that tenancy while the failure continues, shall be guilty of an offence under this Order.

(5) If any default in respect of which a landlord is convicted of an offence under paragraph (4) continues for more than 14 days after that conviction, that landlord shall be deemed to have committed a further offence under that paragraph in respect of that default.

(6) If any person other than the landlord is charged with an offence under paragraph (4), it shall be a defence for him to prove that he neither knew nor had reasonable cause to believe this Article had not been complied with.