Public Rented Housing is provided by councils (local authorities or boroughs) and housing associations, both of which receive funding from the Government to subsidise the costs of building and maintaining the properties.

Rents are usually lower in public sector accommodation and there is an enormous demand for it. Families with children are given priority for this type of accommodation. It is very difficult for single people to get into public rented housing nowadays.

Tenant's Rights

When you accept your tenancy, you have a legally binding agreement between yourself and the NIHE (Your landlord) You then have the following legally established rights:

• Security of tenure.
• The right to information.
• The right to sublet part of your home.
• The right to improve your home.
• The right to exchange your home.

A tenants handbook is issued to you when you accept the tenancy. You should read this handbook carefully for further information on the above rights.

Local NI Housing Executive addresses

Privately Renting

Private sector accommodation is normally owned or leased by private individuals and rented out, often for profit. It is much easier to find but more expensive than public rented housing and you have less security on the whole than in the public sector tenancies.

How do I find Private Rented Accommodation?

Local newspapers carry adverts for rooms and bed-sits as well as whole flats and houses (though the latter are generally advertised through an estate agent or accommodation agency).

Accommodation agencies and estate agents find tenants for landlords and sometimes manage the properties for them as well. Look for the words "free service to tenants" as that means they are charging the landlord/lady for their services and not you. Some charge the tenants - it is legal for them to charge tenants a proportion of their monthly rent when they have actually found you have the keys to move in, but it is illegal for agencies to charge you a fee just to register with them. If they try this with you, refuse and report it to your local council's trading standards office so that they can be prosecuted.

Housing Benefit

Housing benefit is a social security benefit to help you to pay your rent and/or rates if you are on a low income. Housing benefit for tenants is administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and for owner occupiers by the Rate Collection Agency (RCA) within the Department of the Environment.