Property inspections

Submitting a request for a property inspection

We advise that you contact your landlord directly to see if a resolution can be found before submitting a complaint to our housing office. However, where this is not possible or it is ineffective, you should contact us to discuss.

Inspections for tenants

If you are a tenant living in a rented property and are concerned that it's in disrepair, or you suspect the property is unfit to live in, you can contact us to arrange an inspection. For more information, call us on 028 9027 0428.

We advise you to report the matter first to your landlord or agent. Housing Advice NI have some sample letters that can help.

We will inspect the property, and if necessary, we might issue one or more of these notices:

• A nuisance abatement notice - if we deem the disrepair is causing conditions that are bad for health, for example, through damp or dry rot.
• A notice of unfitness - if we inspect a property and find that it is unfit for habitation.
• A notice of disrepair - if repair works are necessary, the landlord is given a specific time frame for repairs to be carried out (this notice may only be issued if the property meets the fitness standard).

Inspections for landlords

If you are a landlord and want to carry out certain repairs to your rented property, you can ask us to serve a legal notice (Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice) on your house, which may entitle you to a NI Housing Executive Repair Scheme grant towards the costs of this work. 

Statutory Nuisances are issued if we deem that the disrepair is causing conditions that are bad for health, for example, through damp or dry rot.

The NIHE Repair Scheme Grant is paid to the owner or agent of a property. It is based on the net annual valuation (NAV) of your property and is not means tested.

To qualify for these grants, you should contact us and arrange an inspection before you start any work. You could be disqualified from accessing the grant if any repair work has already been carried out.

During the inspection if we're satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists, we'll serve you with a Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice, telling you what works you need to carry out to put the problem right.

Certain works require a re-inspection before they are closed up (damp proof membranes, damp proof course, replacing drains, floor joists). You should contact us to arrange the re-inspection of the property. 

You should also contact Building Control if you suspect the works need building control approval.

If we inspect a property and find that it is unfit for habitation, we may issue a legal Notice of Unfitness. This notice does not entitle you to a NIHE repair grant. If the property was constructed before 1945, we will notify the rent office and the amount that you pay may be reduced considerably.

If repair works are necessary, we can also issue a Notice of Disrepair giving a specific time frame for repairs to be carried out. This does not entitle you to grant aid, unless the property is subject to a protected or statutory tenancy under the Rent Order (NI) 1978.

Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms in private housing

From 1 September 2024, there are new laws on installing smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms in private rented accommodation.

If you're a private landlord, you are responsible for installing smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms in your rented properties. For tenancies that began on or after 1 September 2024, you must make sure your property has the required smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms already installed.

For tenancies that began before 1 September, a landlord must complete smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarm installations by 1 December 2024.

The landlord is responsible for repairing and keeping the alarms in good working order to detect smoke, heat and carbon monoxide in private rented housing they own.

Enforcement of laws on smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms

It is an offence if a landlord doesn't comply with the law on installing, repairing and maintaining smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. We can inspect a landlord's private rented property and prosecute them for failing to comply. For queries, you can call us on 028 9027 0428.

If you're a landlord or tenant needing more information, go to  The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Private (Tenancies Regulations) (link opens in new window). 

Gas appliances and flues

Landlords must have an annual safety check carried out on their gas appliances, boilers and flues. The check must be performed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. They must provide tenants with a copy of this safety check. 

These requirements are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, Gas Compliance Team.

• Find out more about Landlord Gas Safety Responsibilities (link opens in new window)

Energy performance certificate

Landlords renting or selling properties must have an energy performance certificate.  

Shared houses

If a landlord rents a house or flat to more than two unrelated people or families, this may be considered a house in multiple occupation (HMO). If so, the property must meet HMO legal requirements.

• Read about HMOs

If a landlord supplies furniture or electrical goods to their tenants, the landlord must ensure that the furniture and electrical goods are safe.

Social housing information

Social housing allocation 

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is responsible for allocating social housing.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive's responsibilities

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) provides public housing in Northern Ireland. NIHE is also responsible for securing the improvement, closure or demolition of houses in the private sector that fall short of the statutory fitness standard.

For more information, you can email information@nihe.gov.uk or call 0344 892 0900.