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Ask the council to inspect a rented home in poor condition (Northern Ireland)
Northern Ireland · in English · for tenants
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For a private tenant in Northern Ireland whose landlord has not dealt with serious problems — damp and mould, no heating, dangerous electrics, vermin. The letter asks the district council’s environmental health team to inspect the home against the fitness standard and take action against the landlord, such as a notice requiring repairs. Many councils take inspection requests online or by phone, free; this letter sets out the problems, the history of your reports and the photos in one place, by post or email.
- Made for use in Northern Ireland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- Your private landlord in Northern Ireland ignores the damp and mould and you want environmental health to look at it.
- The house you rent has no working heating and the landlord will not fix it.
- You wrote to your landlord about the repairs and heard nothing back.
- You want the council to inspect your rented home and tell the landlord to act.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Tenant
- Tenant's address
- Town or city
- Tenant's postcode
- Date
- Council and team (private sector housing or environmental health)
- Council's postal address, with the postcode on the last line
- Landlord
- Landlord's address
- Landlord's postcode
- The repairs needed, room by room, and when each problem began
- When and how you reported the problems, and any reply
- Effect on your health, belongings or use of the home (optional)
- When you can give access for an inspection or repairs (optional)
Common questions
- How do I ask my council in Northern Ireland to inspect my rented home?
- Contact your district council’s environmental health team — free, and many councils take requests online or by phone; this letter does the same in writing, with the history and photos. Most councils first ask whether you told the landlord in writing and gave them time to act, unless there is an immediate danger, so send the repair letter first and enclose a copy.
- What notices can a council in Northern Ireland serve on a private landlord?
- Under Part III of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, a notice of unfitness where the home fails the fitness standard, or a notice of disrepair where it is fit but needs substantial repairs. The landlord can appeal to the county court within 21 days; after that the notice must be complied with. Not complying is an offence, and the council can carry out the work itself.
- Can my landlord in Northern Ireland end my tenancy because I asked the council to inspect?
- A landlord in Northern Ireland can end a periodic private tenancy by notice to quit without giving a reason, but only a court can make you leave if you stay. Keep paying the rent so that arrears never become a reason, keep copies of every letter, and get free advice from Housing Rights at once if you receive a notice.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
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