Skip to main content
Department for Communities Department for Communities An Roinn Pobal Depairtment fur Commonities

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Views sought on technical regulations in Private Tenancies Act

    Topics:
    • Housing

    Date published: 13 September 2023

    The Department for Communities is seeking views as it implements the next stages of the Private Tenancies Act.

    Two consultations have been launched on the out-workings of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 in shaping the technical regulations relating to:

    • Section 8 - The provision of sufficient smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms.
    • Section 10 - Introducing 5-yearly safety checks of a property’s hard-wired electrical installation.

    The purpose of the consultations is to assess whether the regulations deliver a sound legislative framework (in context of boundaries in the 2022 Act) to improve health and safety standards in private rented properties, and that the accompanying Guidance Notes are easy to follow and provide the necessary information for all stakeholder groups.

    The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Regulations set the standards for the number and type of alarms to be installed in private rented properties and aim to reduce the risk of fire related incidents. It is intended these Regulations will come into force next year.

    The Electrical Safety Standards Regulations will introduce the requirement, at a future date, for electrical checks of a property’s electrical hard-wired installation by a qualified electrician. These Regulations aim to reduce the risks of injury due to electrical faults.

    The consultations are open to all, but views are particularly sought from landlords, tenants and stakeholders in industries which may be impacted by the regulations.

    Both consultations are open until Wednesday, December 6.

    Notes to editors:

    1. The consultations can be accessed through the following links:

    Section 8 - the provision of sufficient smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms:
    https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-private-tenancies-act-2022-section-8-smoke-heat-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms

    Section 10 - introducing 5-yearly safety checks of a property’s hard-wired electrical installation:
    https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-private-tenancies-act-2022-section-10-electrical-safety-standards

    2. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office on email press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk

    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Communities Minister ‘races’ to the starting grid of the North West 200

      10 May 2025

    • Condition of NI’s Listed buildings declines by almost 25% in twenty years

      6 May 2025

    • Minister Lyons celebrates title success for Belfast Giants

      29 April 2025

    • Suspended sentence for benefit fraud at Newry Magistrates Court

      23 April 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens