Measures to protect private tenants in Northern Ireland from eviction extended to 4 May 2022

New statutory rule extends period during which landlords are required to give 12 weeks' notice to quit that was due to expire on 30 September 2021

New regulations have been issued in Northern Ireland in relation to the temporary extension of the notice to quit period for private tenants during the Covid-19 outbreak.

In force from 29 September 2021, the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (SR.No.242/2021) amend section 1(2)(b) of the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 to extend, from 30 September 2021 to 4 May 2022, the period where landlords are required to provide private tenants with a 12-week notice to quit period before seeking a court order to begin proceedings to evict.

NB - the 2020 Act as enacted initially provided for the measure to operate between 5 May 2020 and 30 September 2020. This period was subsequently extended by six months to 31 March 2021 by the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (SR.No.192/2020), and for a further six months to 30 September 2021 by the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (SR.No.41/2021).

SR.No.242/2021 is available from legislation.gov.uk