Health and Safety Repairs: Who Pays in Northern Ireland?

Living in a safe and healthy home is every renter’s right. In Northern Ireland, specific laws set out the responsibilities for health and safety repairs, including issues like damp, mould, gas safety, electrical safety, and fire prevention. Knowing who pays for these repairs can help you protect your wellbeing and resolve any problems quickly.

What Are Health and Safety Repairs?

Health and safety repairs cover anything in your home that could put your health, safety, or security at risk. This could involve:

• Broken heating or hot water
• Unsafe wiring or electrical sockets
• Gas leaks, faulty boilers, or missing gas safety checks
• Structural issues that risk collapse or injury
• Problems with damp, mould, or infestations
• Missing or faulty smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

By law, landlords must keep the property safe and in a good state of repair throughout your tenancy¹.

Who Pays for Health and Safety Repairs?

Landlords are legally responsible for most health and safety repairs in privately rented homes in Northern Ireland. This duty is set out in the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006¹. Specifically, landlords must:

• Keep the structure and exterior of your home in good repair (including walls, roof, windows, and doors)
• Repair and maintain installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity, heating, and sanitation (such as toilets, baths, sinks)
• Ensure any supplied appliances are safe to use
• Carry out mandatory annual gas safety checks

If repairs are needed due to normal wear and tear, age, or a health & safety issue, your landlord must pay for them. However, you may be responsible if the damage is caused by you or your guests (for example, accidental or deliberate damage).

What Health and Fire Safety Checks Must Your Landlord Do?

Your landlord must:

• Give you a copy of the gas safety certificate every 12 months if you have gas appliances
• Install and test smoke alarms (required by law in all private tenancies)
• Carry out regular electrical safety checks if the property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

These are all the landlord’s financial responsibility under Northern Ireland regulations.

Steps to Take If Repairs Aren’t Done

If you’ve reported a health or safety repair and your landlord doesn’t act, follow these steps:

1. Report the repair in writing—Keep a written record and note the date you reported it.
2. Give your landlord reasonable time to fix the issue (usually at least 14 days, but serious hazards may require a faster response).
3. If there’s no response, contact your local council’s Environmental Health department. They can inspect the property and order the landlord to carry out repairs if necessary. Find your council's contacts on nidirect.
4. For further escalation, you can make a complaint to the Residential Tenancies branch of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS).

Serious hazards—such as gas leaks, electrical danger, fire risk, or structural collapse—should be reported immediately. If you feel at risk, contact your council or emergency services right away.

Official Forms You May Need

• Form EHS/1: Environmental Health Service Complaint
  When to use: To report hazardous housing conditions to the local council’s environmental health team.
  Example: If your landlord ignores requests to fix dangerous damp or a faulty boiler, fill in this form and submit it to your council.
  Download Environmental Health complaint forms
• Notice to Quit/Termination Notice
  When to use: If you intend to end your tenancy due to lack of repairs affecting your safety.
  Example: Give written notice using the proper form—see official advice at nidirect.

The relevant tribunal for rental disputes or unresolved repair issues is the Residential Tenancies section of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS).

What if There Is Damage You Caused?

Generally, if the repair is required due to accidental or deliberate damage caused by you or your guests, you are likely to be responsible for the cost. Check your tenancy agreement for details, as it may set out additional conditions.

Routine wear, such as a worn-out boiler or leaking roof, is always a landlord’s duty to repair.

FAQ: Renters’ Questions About Health & Safety Repairs

1. Does my landlord have to pay for mould removal in my rented flat?
   Yes, if the mould is caused by building problems (like leaks or poor ventilation), your landlord must fix the issue and treat the mould. But if mould is due to how the property is used (for example, not ventilating rooms), you may be expected to help prevent further growth.
2. What can I do if my landlord refuses urgent repairs?
   First, write to your landlord and keep a record. If there’s no response, report the issue to your local council’s Environmental Health department. They can inspect and require the landlord to make repairs. For ongoing problems, consider applying to the Residential Tenancies section of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.
3. Are gas and electrical safety checks always free to tenants?
   Yes, landlords must arrange and pay for all required gas and electrical safety checks by law. You should receive copies of the certificates for your records.
4. How quickly must a landlord complete health and safety repairs?
   The law doesn’t give a fixed deadline, but they must act within a ‘reasonable’ time. Critical safety hazards should be addressed as soon as possible, while less urgent repairs should still not be unreasonably delayed.
5. What if health and safety issues force me to move out?
   If your home is unsafe and cannot be repaired quickly, you may have grounds to end your tenancy early without penalty. Seek advice from your local council or a renters’ support organisation.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• nidirect: Renting Privately - Your Responsibilities
• nidirect: Private Renting Repairs and Maintenance Guidance
• Find your Local Council in Northern Ireland (for Environmental Health)
• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service: Residential Tenancies
• Housing Advice NI – Free tenant advice

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1. Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
2. nidirect: Private Renting Repairs and Maintenance Guidance
3. HSENI: Gas Safety in Rented Accommodation
4. Find your local council Environmental Health department

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