The Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Particulars relating to the tenancy, etc.N.I.

[F1Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters: grant of tenancyN.I.

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.

Textual Amendments

F1Arts. 4A-4C inserted (28.4.2022 for specified purposes, 1.4.2023 in so far as not already in operation) by Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 14(2)(a); S.R. 2023/20, art. 2, Sch.

Tenant to be given notice regarding certain matters: variation of certain termsN.I.

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.

Textual Amendments

F1Arts. 4A-4C inserted (28.4.2022 for specified purposes, 1.4.2023 in so far as not already in operation) by Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 14(2)(a); S.R. 2023/20, art. 2, Sch.

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

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.]

Textual Amendments

F1Arts. 4A-4C inserted (28.4.2022 for specified purposes, 1.4.2023 in so far as not already in operation) by Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 14(2)(a); S.R. 2023/20, art. 2, Sch.

Tenant to be given notice regarding certain mattersN.I.

4.  F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F3Tenant to be provided with a rent receipt for payment in cashN.I.

5.—(1) This Article applies where the tenant of a dwelling-house makes to the landlord in cash—

(a)any payment in consideration of the grant, renewal or continuance of a private tenancy, or

(b)any payment in satisfaction (or part satisfaction) of an obligation arising under a private tenancy.

(2) The landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt for the payment stating—

(a)the date of payment;

(b)what the payment was for;

(c)the amount paid;

(d)if any amount remains outstanding, that amount;

(e)if no further amount remains outstanding, that fact.

(3) Where a tenant pays a single sum consisting of two or more payments—

(a)the duty in paragraph (2)(c) includes a duty to state how the sum paid is apportioned between each payment, and

(b)sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of that paragraph apply in respect of each payment.

(4) Where, in the case of any payment within paragraph (1)(b), it is not possible for the person giving the receipt to state with certainty the amount that was required to satisfy the obligation in question, sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of paragraph (2) require the matters mentioned in them to be stated to the best of that person’s knowledge and belief.

(5) The receipt must be provided—

(a)at the time the payment is made, or

(b)if that is not possible, as soon as reasonably possible after that time.

(6) A tenant must not be required to make a payment in respect of the provision of the receipt.

(7) In the event of a failure to comply with paragraph (2) or (5), the following are guilty of an offence under this Order—

(a)the landlord, and

(b)any person appointed by the landlord to provide the receipt.

(But see Article 5ZB for a defence to this offence.)

(8) In this Article—

“landlord” includes a former landlord and (in a case falling within paragraph (1)(a)) a prospective landlord;

“tenant” includes a former tenant and (in a case falling within paragraph (1)(a)) a prospective tenant.]

Textual Amendments

[F3Continued failure by landlord to provide rent receipt after conviction or fixed penaltyN.I.

5ZA.—(1) If a landlord is convicted of an offence under Article 5(7)(a) in respect of a failure to comply with Article 5(2), and the failure continues for more than 14 days after the conviction, the landlord is deemed to have committed a further offence under Article 5(7)(a) in respect of that failure.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies where—

(a)a landlord fails to comply with Article 5(2),

(b)the landlord is given a fixed penalty notice under Article 68A in respect of an offence under Article 5(7)(a) 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 5(2) continues for more than 14 days after the landlord pays the fixed penalty, the landlord is guilty of an offence under this Order.

(But see Article 5ZB for a defence to this offence.)

(4) In this Article “landlord” has the meaning given by Article 5(8).

Textual Amendments

Controlled tenancies: defence to offences under Articles 5 and 5ZAN.I.

5ZB.—(1) This Article applies where, in the case of a controlled tenancy (within the meaning given by Article 40(4)), a payment in cash was made in respect of rent for the tenancy.

(2) If—

(a)a person is charged with an offence under Article 5(7) and a qualifying receipt was provided in accordance with Article 5(5), or

(b)a person is charged with an offence under Article 5ZA(3) and a qualifying receipt was provided at any time before the end of the period of 14 days mentioned in Article 5ZA(3) (including before the fixed penalty notice was given),

paragraph (6) applies.

(3) A receipt is a qualifying receipt for the purposes of paragraph (2) if—

(a)it complies with Article 5(2)(a), (b) and (c),

(b)it complies with Article 5(2)(d) and (e) in respect of any payment, other than the rent, that was included in the sum paid, and

(c)either condition A or condition B is met.

(4) Condition A is that—

(a)after the cash payment, no further amount in respect of rent in fact remained outstanding,

(b)the receipt stated that there was an amount outstanding, and

(c)that amount consists wholly of a sum that is irrecoverable by virtue of Article 50(1).

(5) Condition B is that—

(a)after the cash payment, an amount in respect of rent in fact remained outstanding (“the true arrears”),

(b)the receipt stated as outstanding an amount that was more than the true arrears, and

(c)the difference between the stated amount and the true arrears consists wholly of a sum that is irrecoverable by virtue of Article 50(1).

(6) It is a defence to the offence under Article 5(7) or (as the case may be) Article 5ZA(3) for the person charged to prove that the landlord (or former landlord) had a bona fide claim that the sum mentioned in paragraph (4)(c) or (5)(c) was recoverable.]

Textual Amendments