Your landlord normally can't just ask you to leave your home. There are steps landlords usually must take before you have to leave.

If your landlord is trying to evict you contact a local advice agency immediately.

• Check your rights
  
• How do I find out what my rights are?
  
• Talk to your landlord
  
• Make a homeless application to the Housing Executive
  

Check your rights

Landlords have to follow specific legal procedures to evict their tenants. They can't just throw you out into the street over night. For example:

• you should normally be given a certain amount of notice before you have to leave,
• your landlord will need to have a reason for evicting you - for example, because your lease has ended or you have broken a term of your tenancy agreement.

If your landlord does not follow the correct legal procedure or tries to evict you illegally, you may be able to get the eviction stopped.

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How do I find out what my rights are?

Your rights will vary depending on:

• whether you live with your landlord,
• what kind of tenancy you have.

To find out your rights, you can check your tenancy type here and then go to the relevant pages in this section. A local advice agency can also help you find out what your rights are.

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Talk to your landlord

Find out why you are being evicted. For example, your landlord may ask you to leave because:

• your tenancy is coming to an end,
• you have broken a term of your tenancy agreement,
• they want to sell the property.

Ask your landlord if there is anything you can do to prevent or delay the eviction.

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Make a homeless application to the Housing Executive

If you have to leave your home, you can apply to the Housing Executive for help. If you meet the tests for homelessness, the Housing Executive has to offer you:

• advice and assistance,
  
• temporary accommodation,
  
• a permanent home when one becomes available.

The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

Am I homeless?

You don't have to be sleeping on the street to be homeless. For example, you can make a homeless application if:

• your landlord has asked you to leave your home within the next month,
• you are staying temporarily with friends or family,
• you are living in a hostel, a refuge or bed and breakfast accommodation.

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