Most tenants in Northern Ireland fall under this category. These tenants usually have fewer rights than protected tenants . Your rent will usually be higher. Your tenancy agreement should outline your rights and responsibilities.

• How can I tell if I have this type of tenancy?
• What rights do I have?
• Safety

How can I tell if I have this type of tenancy?

You will probably have this type of tenancy if:

• your accommodation was built (or converted to let) after 1956,
• it is not a protected tenancy,
• your accommodation has a certificate of fitness.

Get specialist advice if you think that you may have a protected tenancy.

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What rights do I have?

These types of tenants have a number of basic rights such as:

• right to a rent book - free of charge and within 28 days of the tenancy being granted if your tenancy began after 1 April 2007,
• freedom from harassment and illegal eviction,
• 4, 8 or 12 weeks' notice to quit, depending on how long you've lived in the property,
• due process of law.

Your tenancy agreement should outline the rest of your rights and responsibilities. For example:

• how long the tenancy will last - if the tenancy started on or after 1 April 2007 and its length is not stated in the agreement, a term of six months applies to that tenancy,
• how much rent is due,
• when you should pay rent,
• who is responsible for repairs - for tenancies that began after 1 April 2007 if the agreement doesn't state responsibilities clearly (or if there is no tenancy agreement) certain duties of repair shall apply,
• whether you can leave the tenancy before the end of the tenancy agreement,
• If your tenancy began after 1 April 2007, you must be provided with a written statement of tenancy terms within 28 days of the commencement of your tenancy. This should be supplied to you free of charge.
• The contents of the statement allow for default tenancy terms to be enforced in the absence of a tenancy agreement. It is an offence for a landlord not to provide a statement of tenancy terms in these circumstances.

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Safety

Your home should be safe to live in. There are legal safety guidelines that your landlord must follow.

If your tenancy starts after 1 April 2007 and your property needs a fitness inspection, your landlord must apply to the local district council to have a fitness inspection carried out on the property within 28 days of the tenancy commencement. Most properties in Northern Ireland do not need to have a fitness inspection.

Who decides if the property is furnished

There are no legal guidelines about when a property is furnished. However, you should assume that a furnished property will include furniture and furnishings to allow you to cook, eat, sleep and wash. For example:

• kitchen: cooker, sink with hot and cold running water, work surfaces, storage,
• living room: curtains, floor covering (also tiles or polished wooden floors), heating and chairs,
• bedrooms: curtains, floor covering (also tiles or polished wooden floors), beds, mattresses, storage for clothes.

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