Rent Book (Northern Ireland)

What is a rent book?

A rent book is a document provided by a landlord to a tenant that records the tenant's rent payments, particularly for properties in Northern Ireland.

 

Is it mandatory to have a rent book?

Yes, it is a legal requirement to provide a tenant with a rent book in Northern Ireland. The rent book must be given to the tenant within 28 days of the date the tenancy begins.

 

What are prerequisites of a rent book?

Before issuing the rent book, there should first be a formal tenancy in place, with terms agreed. The tenancy can be agreed through a written tenancy agreement.

 

Who uses a rent book?

A rent book should be used only for residential tenancies. This means landlords of commercial properties do not need to provide a rent book to their tenants. However, landlords of residential properties must give their tenants a rent book.

 

What has to be done once a rent book is ready?

When the rent book is ready, it should be given to the tenant, and the landlord should keep a copy for themselves.

 

What must a rent book contain?

A rent book must contain:

• Details of the property;
• Rent details; and
• Any other payments the tenant(s) will have to cover.

 

Which laws are applicable to a rent book?

The Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

The Rent Book Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

The Tenancy Deposit Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Data Protection Act 2018

 

Help from a lawyer

You can choose to consult a lawyer if you need help.

The lawyer can answer your questions or help you through the process. You will be offered this option when you complete the document.

 

How to modify the template?

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