Social housing tenants in Northern Ireland: repairs and rent

If you are struggling with rent, contact your landlord early: there is help with arrears, and with rent and rates through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.

Right to Repair

The Right to Repair scheme covers small, urgent repairs costing up to £250 which are likely to be a risk to your health, safety or security if not done quickly. Emergency repairs, affecting the tenant's safety, security or health, should be done within one working day.

You may be entitled to compensation when the contractor fails to complete qualifying repairs within the agreed timescale.

Doing repairs and improvements yourself

You can do minor repairs yourself under the Tenant Self Help Repair Scheme. The Housing Executive pay up to £200 towards the repairs. Before you make any changes, you must agree the work with the maintenance officer in the district office.

You must get written permission from the Housing Executive before you make any improvements to your home. You cannot claim compensation for interior decorating your home. Housing association secure tenants also have the right to improve their home with written consent, and may claim compensation for some improvements when the tenancy ends.

If major work is done to your home

You may be eligible for a payment to help with moving into a new home or to help decorate after the Housing Executive (NIHE) or registered housing association has done work to your home.

Rent, arrears and increases

The Housing Executive can give advice and help if your rent is in arrears, and you can make an agreement to repay. If there is a change in your circumstances and you can't keep the agreement, you must contact your district office immediately.

If you're an introductory tenant and the Housing Executive writes to tell you they're seeking a possession order from court, you can ask them to review your case within 14 days. A housing association must give you at least four weeks' notice in writing before charging you an increased rent.

Who repairs what

Under the tenancy agreement, both the tenant and the Housing Executive or housing association have different responsibilities for doing repairs in the property. In shared buildings, some communal areas and services are yours to maintain and others are the landlord's.

The Housing Executive is responsible for doing certain minor adaptations for disabled tenants which don't need to be referred to an occupational therapist. Its homes are measured against the Decent Homes standard of fitness, structure, energy efficiency and facilities.

Common questions

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