New survey calls for urgent action on affordability and standards in Northern Ireland’s private rented sector

New analysis from Northern Ireland’s leading independent provider of specialist housing advice, Housing Rights, reveals deepening pressures on private renters across Northern Ireland.

Funded by TDS Northern Ireland, the new report highlights affordability and housing standards  as the two most pressing concerns.  

The report calls on the Department for Communities to improve affordability, strengthen regulation and enforcement, and recourse to justice. Alongside this, TDS Northern Ireland is supporting improvements to access and affordability in the private rented sector through funding, training and partnerships that help tenants secure and sustain private rental homes.

A growing sector, growing risks

The private rented sector (PRS) in Northern Ireland has grown in size to marginally exceed that of the social rented sector. The option of social housing or homeownership is no longer available to many families, leaving private renting as the only choice. 

This shift has major implications. Private landlords now have responsibility for housing a similar number of households as the State – but in a sector that remains poorly regulated.

As a lower income economy than other nations in the UK, rent increases raise the risk of poverty, destitution and homelessness. 

How the research was carried out 

The research draws on:

• Housing Rights’ advice work with over 13,000 households 

• Two tenant surveys carried out in early 2025 on:

  • Rent affordability (121 responses)

  • Repairs and standards (156 responses).

While not representative of the whole PRS, the findings offer valuable insight into the experiences of some renters which should be explored in further research. 

Affordability: Rent is becoming unsustainable 

Affordability emerged as the most urgent concern.

• Over 70% of renters participating in the survey struggle to afford their rent More than a third have cut monthly costs and nearly four in ten struggle to meet rent payments. 

• Rent increases have been steep and widespread 56% of respondents confirmed rent increases exceeding £100 per month since 2023, reflecting rapid inflation in the PRS and compounding pressure on low and middle-income households.

• Most benefit recipients face rent shortfalls Of those receiving housing support, nearly 75% said it only partially covered their rent. Half reported shortfalls of £100–£300 per month and over one in five faced shortfalls of over £300 between support and market rents. 

• Upfront costs trap renters in place 90% of respondents expressed concern about being unable to pay a new deposit if they had to move, with 74% saying they could not cover it and nearly 7% indicating they might turn to a loan shark or illegal lender. 

Housing standards: Disrepair is widespread – and often unresolved

The report revealed widespread disrepair and low confidence in enforcement among those tenants taking part in the survey. 

• Three quarters of participating renters report outstanding repair issues Disrepair is a common and ongoing experience in the private rented sector. 

• Outstanding repair issues Of those who reported a repair issue, 62% said their landlord had never got around to completing it. 

• Over two thirds of tenants are paying for repairs themselves 68% reported covering repair costs to avoid dealing with the landlord or risking consequences. 

• Fear of eviction silences complaints Nearly half delayed reporting a repair for fear of eviction, and 39% said they had chosen not to report one, showing how “no fault” eviction fears suppress complaints. 

What needs to change

While these findings reflect lived experiences for a sample of tenants, they also highlight wider, structural pressures in Northern Ireland’s PRS. A growing reliance on private renting, rising costs, and limited alternatives have created challenges for tenants, landlords and letting agents alike.

The report calls for the Department for Communities to act decisively to:

• Improve affordability for households most at risk of poverty and homelessness

• Raise housing standards through clearer regulation

• Strengthen confidence in enforcement

• Expand access to advice, support and genuinely affordable housing

Building a fairer private rented sector

TDS Northern Ireland is already helping to drive change. Through grants, partnerships and training, TDSNI is supporting a more professional, accessible and fair private rented sector.

In partnership with Housing Rights, TDSNI is providing bursaries for accredited training to improve understanding of rights and responsibilities across the sector. Grants to organisations such as the Simon Community and SmartMove are also helping low-income households secure and sustain private tenancies by funding deposits and expanding advice services.

Private renting is no longer a short-term stopgap for many households in Northern Ireland. Addressing affordability and repairs is not optional – it is essential to preventing homelessness, protecting tenants, and creating a private rented sector that works for everyone.