AQW 17434/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the enactment of section 11 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 25 October 2024
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 25 October 2024
- Answer due by
- 11 November 2024
- Answered
- 20 November 202426 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
My Department is working on commencing longer Notice to Quit periods, as provided for in Section 11 of the Act. However, as you are aware, the Act stipulates that regulations to specify those circumstances where longer notice periods will not apply must be in place before this happens.
My Department commissioned the Chartered Institute of Housing to produce a research report on those circumstances. The report and subsequent stakeholder discussion revealed a number of complexities which required further consideration, such as, in cases of domestic violence or when anti-social behaviour is as a result of a mental health condition. To this end, my Department is in the process of finalising a robust Equality Impact Assessment, with consultation planned for the coming months.
Subject to the EQIA and other work completing as planned, I anticipate that draft regulations will be published for consultation in the early part of 2025.