Rents for protected tenancies are limited by law. You will usually pay less rent than other tenants. Your rent depends on the type of tenancy you have.

Some protected tenants only have to pay £1 per week. Before April 1^st 2007 these types of tenancies were known as restricted tenancies.

Other protected tenants must pay a similar amount of rent as Housing Executive tenants. Before April 1^st 2007 these types of tenancies were known as regulated tenancies.

It is complicated working out which rent applies to you - you should contact Housing Rights Service for further advice.

• How much rent do I pay?
• Will I have to pay a deposit?

How much rent do I pay?

• If you are in a protected tenancy and the rent officer has not determined a level of rent since 1 April 2007, the maximum rent payable is either:
• the amount registered with the Housing Executive prior to April 1st 2007 or
• £1 per week - if the rent was restricted prior to April 1st 2007

The rent for a tenancy which had a regulated rent certificate is calculated using the same system the Housing Executive use to calculate their rents. Your accommodation is rated according to:

• the type of accommodation
• the age of the accommodation
• the number of rooms
• the size of rooms

The weekly rent is decided by multiplying the points total by a value that changes each year.

If you are in a protected tenancy and the rent officer has determined a level of rent since April 1st 2007 you should not pay any rent over that amount.

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Will I have to pay a deposit?

Your landlord can ask you to pay a deposit when you move into a protected tenancy. However, the deposit must be less than one sixth of the annual rent.

Can my landlord increase my rent?

Only the Northern Ireland Rent Officer or a Rent Assessment Committee can increase your rent. Your landlord may be able to get the Rent Officer or Rent Assessment Committee to increase your rent by carrying out repairs to your home. Your rent may also increase slightly each year in line with the rise in Housing Executive rents. If the Rent Officer or Rent Assessment Committee does increase your rent, your landlord must give you 4 weeks written notice of the increased rent.

If your landlord has been charging you more than £1 per week you may be able to claim back up to two years overpaid rent. Seek advice in this situation.