§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the major differences in the law relating to the tenants of private landlords in Northern Ireland and their position in relation to rent, repairs and security of tenure as opposed to those in England and Wales; and to what extent the Government propose to move the Northern Ireland law into line with England and Wales. [72]
§ Mr. MossThe legislation governing the private rented sector in Northern Ireland is significantly different than in England and Wales.
In England and Wales there are three main types of tenancy:
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- (i) regulated—commenced before 15 January 1989 subject to a fair rent with considerable security of tenure and the landlord normally responsible for the repairs;
- (ii) assured—from 15 January 1989 landlords could create an assured tenancy with rent charged at open market levels;
- (iii) assured shorthold—allows landlords to let their property for a fixed period, which must be for a minimum of 6 months, in the certainty that they can gain possession at the end of it.