Executive Summary

Homeless Connect supports the extension of Notice to Quit (NTQ) periods under the Private Tenancies (NI) Act 2022 but raises significant concerns about the four proposed exceptions, arguing that each requires amendment before the regulations are finalised.

The two-week NTQ periods proposed for serious anti-social behaviour and relevant criminal offences are highlighted as particularly problematic. These timescales leave tenants with insufficient time to seek advice, constrain the Housing Executive’s ability to conduct statutory homelessness assessments, and increase the risk of households entering crisis. Homeless Connect also flags the subjectivity of anti-social behaviour assessments and the low evidential threshold required to invoke this exception, warning that without robust safeguards or accessible challenge mechanisms, tenants face a real risk of unjust eviction.

On rent arrears, while acknowledging the statutory basis for an exception, the response warns that shortened notice periods combined with repayment expectations could push tenants towards unsafe or illegal borrowing. The landlord occupation exception is also identified as poorly drafted – without a minimum occupation period or clear evidential requirements, it could be exploited to bypass NTQ protections entirely.

Homeless Connect concludes by calling for stronger enforcement, clearer guidance, and the introduction of accessible Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. The response emphasises that tenant rights are only meaningful if they are practically enforceable, and recommends that the Department commits to a review of the regulations 12 months after implementation to assess whether they are operating fairly and effectively.

You can read our full response here.