There have been changes to the Notice To Quit process in Northern Ireland.

The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 extends the changes to the Notice to Quit periods to March 31 next year in anticipation of the effects of the virus lasting until at least that time.

During this period a 12-week notice to quit period applies to all tenancies, irrespective of duration, meaning the major changes are: 

– tenancies of less than five years have the notice to quit period increased by eight weeks to 12 weeks;

– tenancies between five and 10 years have their notice to quit period increased by four weeks to 12 weeks;

– and for tenancies of beyond 10 years, the notice to quit period remains the same at 12 weeks.

“Extending the Notice to Quit periods to help prevent or reduce significant numbers of households becoming homeless at a time of national crisis, whilst keeping a fair balance for landlords being able to get return of their property, is a welcome and pragmatic approach by the Department for Communities” says ARLA Propertymark’s strategic development manager for Northern Ireland, Daryl McIntosh.