Certain tenancies are controlled by law. These include protected tenancies and certain tenancies which began after 1 April 2007. If your tenancy began after 1 April 2007 and does not have a Certificate of Fitness, your rent will be controlled. This means a maximum level of rent payable on the property will be set by the Rent Officer until the property meets certain fitness standards.

This only applies to certain tenancies. Most properties in Northern Ireland do not need a Certificate of Fitness.

• What is a rent controlled tenancy?
  
• How can I tell if I have a rent controlled tenancy?
  

What is a rent controlled tenancy?

If your property needs to have a Certificate of Fitness and does not have one and your tenancy began after 1 April 2007, your landlord must apply to the district council for a fitness inspection of the premises within 28 days of the start of your tenancy.

Properties subject to rent control are those that have failed the fitness inspection and have not been granted a Certificate of Fitness by the local council. If a property fails a fitness inspection, the tenancy in that property is subject to rent control unless the landlord carries out all of the repair works set out in the notice.

If you are a tenant in one of these types of properties, the Rent Officer shall determine the level of rent you should pay until the property passes the fitness inspection.

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How can I tell if I have a rent controlled tenancy?

You may be in a tenancy that is subject to rent control if:

• your tenancy began after 1 April 2007,
• your property was built before 1 January 1945,
• the property does not meet the fitness standard,
• the property does not need to have a Certificate of Fitness.

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