Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters

1.—(1) The 2006 Order is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4).

(2) In Part 2, after the italic heading “Particulars relating to the tenancy, etc.” insert—

“Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters: grant of tenancy

4A.— (1) This Article applies where a private tenancy of a dwelling-house is granted on or after the date on which section 1 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 comes into operation.

(2) The landlord under the tenancy must, within 28 days after the date on which the tenancy is granted, give to the tenant a notice—

(a) in the prescribed form, and

(b) containing the prescribed particulars and other prescribed information relating to the tenancy.

(3) A tenant must not be required to make a payment in respect of any notice under paragraph (2).

(4) A landlord who fails to comply with paragraph (2) is guilty of an offence under this Order.

Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters: variation of certain terms

4B.— (1) This Article applies where, on or after the date on which section 1 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 comes into operation, a prescribed term of a private tenancy of a dwelling-house is varied; and it applies regardless of the date on which the tenancy was granted.

(2) The landlord under the tenancy must, within 28 days after the date on which the term of the tenancy is varied, give to the tenant a notice—

(a) in the prescribed form, and

(b) containing the prescribed information relating to the variation of the term.

(3) In paragraphs (1) and (2) “varied” includes varied by omission.

(4) A tenant must not be required to make a payment in respect of any notice under paragraph (2).

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

Continued failure by landlord to provide notice under Article 4A or 4B after conviction or fixed penalty

4C.— (1) If a landlord is convicted of an offence under Article 4A(4) or 4B(5), and the failure continues for more than 14 days after the conviction, the landlord is deemed to have committed a further offence under that paragraph in respect of that failure.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies where—

(a) a landlord fails to comply with Article 4A(2) or 4B(2),

(b) the landlord is given a fixed penalty notice under Article 68A in respect of an offence under Article 4A(4) or 4B(5) on the grounds of that failure, and

(c) the landlord pays the fixed penalty stated in the notice.

(3) If the failure to comply with Article 4A(2) or 4B(2) continues for more than 14 days after the landlord pays the fixed penalty, the landlord is guilty of an offence under this Order.”.

(3) In Article 68(1) (prosecution and punishment of offences), after “Article” insert “4A(4), 4B(5), 4C(3),”.

(4) In Article 68A (fixed penalty for certain offences)—

(a) in paragraph (1), after “has committed” insert—

“(za) an offence under Article 4A(4) or 4B(5), except one deemed to have been committed by virtue of Article 4C(1);

(zb) an offence under Article 4C(3);”;

(b) in paragraph (8), after “under Article” insert “4A(4), 4B(5), 4C(3),”.

(5) Omit section 1 of the Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.