How rent control is worked out
The Rent Officer works out the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for a rent-controlled tenancy.
Maximum rent a landlord can charge
If your tenancy is rent-controlled, the Rent Officer works out the maximum rent your landlord can charge. The maximum rent is on the rent register.
This amount doesn't include rates.
Information needed to work out maximum rent
The following factors must be taken into account when making a rent determination:
- the terms of your tenancy
- the state of repair, especially if your property is either fit or unfit
- an equal Housing Executive rent for a similar property
- the Local Reference Rent used by the Housing Executive for housing benefit purposes
- furnishings provided
- the extent of any tenant neglect
- the extent of any tenant improvements, for example providing heating
- Protected and statutory tenancies
Applying for rent control
If you're the landlord or tenant of a protected tenancy and haven't applied for a fitness certificate, you can ask the Rent Officer to work out a rent. You need to fill in an application form for rent registration.
If you're the landlord or tenant of a protected tenancy and the circumstances of your tenancy have changed since the Rent Officer determined the rent, you should fill in an application form for further determination of rent.
When the Rent Officer sets a rent
Once the Rent Officer has determined a rent, they must tell the landlord and tenant. The landlord and tenant have 14 days to appeal this decision to the Rent Assessment Committee.
If no appeal request is received, the Rent Officer’s decision takes effect.
What the Rent Assessment Committee does
If a Rent Assessment Committee changes the Rent Officer’s decision, the new rent will take effect when the committee’s decision is notified to the Rent Officer and this rent is registered.
Only protected or statutory tenancies can request a further review of the registered rent where there has been a change of circumstances in the tenancy.
Appealing the rent determined by the Rent Officer
If you are unhappy with the rent set by the Rent Officer, you have 14 days to appeal to a Rent Assessment Committee.
The Committee will review the Rent Officer's decision. They can confirm or vary the amount of rent which will be registered.
The Rent Officer will send you:
- information about applying to a Rent Assessment Committee
- the rent they set
- Rent Officer for Northern Ireland
Changes to your rent
If you get Housing Benefit to pay your rent, you should tell the Housing Executive your rent is changing.
If you get Universal Credit towards your housing costs, you need to sign in to your Universal Credit online account to report any changes. You can report a change in circumstances by going to your Universal Credit home page.