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Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

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Article 13.

SCHEDULE 4N.I.GROUNDS FOR POSSESSION OF DWELLING-HOUSES LET ON OR SUBJECT TO PROTECTED OR STATUTORY TENANCIES

PART IN.I.CASES IN WHICH COURT MAY ORDER POSSESSION

Case 1N.I.

Where any rent lawfully due from the tenant has not been paid, or any obligation of the protected or statutory tenancy which arises under this Order, or—

(a)in the case of a protected tenancy, any other obligation of the tenancy, in so far as it is consistent with Part III of this Order, or

(b)in the case of a statutory tenancy, any other obligation of the previous protected tenancy which is applicable to the statutory tenancy,

has been broken or not performed.

[F1In paragraphs (a) and (b) above any reference to an obligation of a tenancy does not include an obligation to repair, maintain or carry out works to the dwelling-house comprised in the tenancy, other than an obligation arising by virtue of [F2Article 8 of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006] .]

Case 2N.I.

Where the tenant or any person residing or lodging with him or any sub-tenant of his—

(a)has been guilty of conduct which is a nuisance or annoyance to adjoining occupiers; or

(b)has been convicted of using the dwelling-house or allowing the dwelling-house to be used for immoral or illegal purposes.

Case 3N.I.

Where—

(a)the condition of the dwelling-house has, in the opinion of the court, deteriorated owing to acts of waste by, or the neglect or default of, the tenant or any person residing or lodging with him or any sub-tenant of his, and

(b)in the case of any act of waste by, or the neglect or default of, a person lodging with the tenant or a sub-tenant of his, the court is satisfied that the tenant has not, before the making of the order in question, taken such steps as he ought reasonably to have taken for the removal of the lodger or sub-tenant, as the case may be.

Case 4N.I.

Where—

(a)the condition of any furniture provided for use under the tenancy has, in the opinion of the court, deteriorated owing to ill-treatment by the tenant or any person residing or lodging with him or any sub-tenant of his, and

(b)in the case of any ill-treatment by a person lodging with the tenant or a sub-tenant of his the court is satisfied that the tenant has not, before the making of the order in question, taken such steps as he ought reasonably to have taken for the removal of the lodger or sub-tenant, as the case may be.

Case 5N.I.

Where—

(a)the tenant has given notice to quit, and

(b)in consequence of that notice, the landlord has contracted to sell or let the dwelling-house or has taken any other steps as the result of which he would, in the opinion of the court, be seriously prejudiced if he could not obtain possession.

Case 6N.I.

Where, without the consent of the landlord, the tenant has, at any time after the commencement of this Order, assigned or sub-let the whole of the dwelling-house or sub-let part of the dwelling-house, the remainder being already sub-let.

Case 7N.I.

Where—

(a)the dwelling-house is reasonably required by the landlord for occupation as a residence for some person engaged in his whole-time employment, or in the whole-time employment of some tenant from him or with whom, conditional on housing being provided, a contract for such employment has been entered into, and

(b)the tenant was in the employment of the landlord or a former landlord; and

(c)the dwelling-house was let to the tenant in consequence of that employment and he has ceased to be in that employment.

Case 8N.I.

Where the dwelling-house is reasonably required by the landlord for occupation as a residence for—

(a)himself, or

(b)any son or daughter of his over the age of 18, or

(c)his father or mother, or

(d)if the dwelling-house is let on or subject to a regulated tenancy, the father or mother of his[F3 spouse or civil partner].

and the landlord did not become landlord by purchasing the dwelling-house or any estate therein after the commencement of this Order.

Case 9N.I.

Where the court is satisfied that the rent charged by the tenant for any sub-let part of the dwelling-house which is a dwelling-house let on a protected tenancy or subject to a statutory tenancy is or was in excess of the maximum rent for the time being recoverable for that part, having regard to [F4Chapter III of Part IV of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006] .

Case 10N.I.

Where—

(a)the dwelling-house is the sole or principal dwelling-house on any agricultural land used for agriculture; and

(b)the court is satisfied that the landlord intends to sell the land.

For the purposes of this Case “agriculture” has the same meaning as in the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 [1977 NI 22] .

PART IIN.I.CASES IN WHICH COURT MUST ORDER POSSESSION

Case 11N.I.

(1) [F5Where a person (in this Case referred to as “the owner-occupier”) who let the dwelling-house on a protected tenancy had, at any time before the letting, occupied it as his residence], and

(a)not later than the commencement of that tenancy the landlord gave notice to the tenant that possession might be recovered under this Case; and

(b)the dwelling-house has not since the commencement of that tenancy been let by the owner-occupier on a protected tenancy with respect to which the condition mentioned in sub-paragraph ( a) was not satisfied; and

[F6(c)the court is of the opinion that the conditions set out in Part V of this Schedule one of those in sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) to (f) of paragraph (2) is satisfied.]

(2) If the court is of the opinion that, notwithstanding that the condition in paragraph (1)( a) or ( b) is not complied with, it is just and equitable to make an order for possession of the dwelling-house, the court may dispense with the requirements of either or both of those sub-paragraphs.

[F5(3) Where the dwelling-house has been let by the owner-occupier on a protected tenancy (in this paragraph referred to as “the earlier tenancy”) granted on or after 16th November 1984 but not later than the end of the period of two months beginning with the day of the coming into operation of the Rent (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and either—

(a)the earlier tenancy was granted for a term certain (whether or not followed by a further term or to continue thereafter from year to year or some other period) and was during that term a protected shorthold tenancy as defined in Article 92 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or

(b)the conditions mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of Case 18 were satisfied in relation to the dwelling-house and the earlier tenancy,

then for the purposes of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) the condition in sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph is to be treated as having been satisfied with respect to the earlier tenancy.]

[F7Case 12N.I.

Where the owner intends to occupy the dwelling-house as his residence at such time as he might retire from regular employment and has let it on a protected tenancy before he has so retired and—

(a)not later than the commencement of the protected tenancy the owner gave notice in writing to the tenant that possession might be recovered under this Case;

(b)the dwelling-house has not, since the commencement of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, been let by the owner on a protected tenancy with respect to which the condition mentioned in paragraph (a) was not satisfied; and

(c)the court is of the opinion that of the conditions set out in Part V one of those in sub-paragraphs (b) to (e) of paragraph (2) is satisfied.

If the court is of the opinion that, notwithstanding that the conditions in paragraph (a) and (b) are not complied with, it is just and equitable to make an order for possession of the dwelling-house, the court may dispense with the requirements of either or both of those paragraphs, as the case may require.]

Case 13N.I.

Where—

(a)the dwelling-house is held for the purpose of being available for occupation by a minister or a full-time lay missionary of any religious denomination as a residence from which to perform the duties of his office; and

(b)the court is satisfied that the dwelling-house is required for occupation by such a minister or missionary as such a residence.

Case 14N.I.

Where the dwelling-house was at any time occupied by a person under the terms of his employment as a person employed in agriculture and—

(a)the tenant neither is nor at any time was so employed by the landlord and is not the [F8surviving spouse or civil partner] of a person who was so employed, and

(b)not later than 1st April 1979 or the date of the commencement of the protected tenancy in question (whichever is the later), the tenant was given notice in writing that possession might be recovered under this Case, and

(c)the court is satisfied that the dwelling-house is required for occupation by a person employed or to be employed by the landlord in agriculture;

and for the purposes of this Case “employed”, “employment” and “agriculture” have the same meanings as in the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland Order) 1977 [1977 NI 22] .

Case 15N.I.

Where proposals for amalgamation, approved for the purposes of a scheme under section 26 of the Agriculture Act 1967 [1967 c.22] , have been carried out and, at the time when the proposals were submitted, the dwelling-house was occupied by a person responsible (whether as owner, tenant, or servant or agent of another) for the control of the farming of any part of the land comprised in the amalgamation and—

(a)after the carrying out of the proposals, the dwelling-house was let on a protected tenancy otherwise than to, or to the [F9surviving spouse or civil partner] of, either a person ceasing to be so responsible as part of the amalgamation or a person who is, or at any time was, employed by the landlord in agriculture, and

(b)not later than the date of the commencement of the protected tenancy in question the tenant was given notice in writing that possession might be recovered under this Case, and

(c)the court is satisfied that the dwelling-house is required for occupation by a person employed, or to be employed, by the landlord in agriculture, and

(d)the proceedings for possession are commenced by the landlord at any time during the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which the proposals for the amalgamation were approved or, if occupation of the dwelling-house after the amalgamation continued in, or was first taken by, a person ceasing to be responsible as mentioned in paragraph ( a) or his [F9surviving spouse or civil partner] , during a period expiring 3 years after the date on which the dwelling-house next became unoccupied.

For the purposes of this Case “employed” and “agriculture” have the same meanings as in the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and “amalgamation” has the same meaning as in Part II of the Agriculture Act 1967.

Case 16N.I.

(1) Where—

(a)the last occupier of the dwelling-house before the date of the commencement of the protected tenancy in question was a person, or the [F10surviving spouse or civil partner] of a person, who was at some time during his occupation responsible (whether as owner, tenant, or servant or agent of another) for the control of the farming of land which formed, together with the dwelling-house, an agricultural unit, and

(b)the tenant is neither—

(i)a person, or the [F10surviving spouse or civil partner] of a person, who is or has at any time been responsible for the control of the farming of any part of that land, nor

(ii)a person, or the [F10surviving spouse or civil partner] of a person, who is or at any time was employed by the landlord in agriculture, and

(c)the creation of the tenancy was not preceded by the carrying out in connection with any of that land of an amalgamation approved for the purposes of a scheme under section 26 of the Agriculture Act 1967 [1967 c.22] , and

(d)not later than the date of the commencement of the protected tenancy in question the tenant was given notice in writing that possession might be recovered under this Case, and

(e)the court is satisfied that the dwelling-house is required for occupation either by a person responsible or to be responsible (whether as owner, tenant, or servant or agent of another) for the control of the farming of any part of that land or by a person employed or to be employed by the landlord in agriculture, and

(f)where the date of the commencement of the protected tenancy in question was before the commencement of this Order, the proceedings for possession are commenced by the landlord before the expiry of 5 years from the date on which the occupier referred to in paragraph ( a) went out of occupation.

(2) For the purposes of this Case “employed” and “agriculture” have the same meanings as in the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 [1977 NI 22] and “amalgamation” has the same meaning as in Part II of the Agriculture Act 1967.

(3) In this Case “agricultural unit” means land which is occupied as a unit for agricultural purposes, including any dwelling-house or other building occupied by the same person for the purpose of farming the land.

[F11Case 17N.I.

Where the dwelling-house was let under a protected shorthold tenancy (or is treated under Article 95 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as having been so let) and—

(a)there either has been no grant of a further tenancy of the dwelling-house since the end of the protected shorthold tenancy or, if there was such a grant, it was to a person who immediately before the grant was in possession of the dwelling-house as a protected or statutory tenant; and

(b)the proceedings for possession were commenced after appropriate notice by the landlord to the tenant and not later than three months after the expiry of the notice.

A notice is appropriate for this Case if—

(i)it is in writing and states that proceedings for possession under this Case may be brought after its expiry; and

(ii)it expires not earlier than three months after it is served and, if at the time of service the tenancy is a periodic tenancy, not earlier than the date by which that periodic tenancy could be brought to an end by a notice to quit served by the landlord on the same day;

(iii)it is served—

(a)in the period of three months immediately preceding the date on which the protected shorthold tenancy comes to an end; or

(b)if that date has passed, in the period of three months immediately preceding any anniversary of that date; and

(iv)in a case where a previous notice has been served by the landlord on the tenant in respect of the dwelling-house, and that notice was an appropriate notice, it is served not earlier than three months after the expiry of the previous notice.]

[F12Case 18N.I.

Where the dwelling-house was let by a person (in this Case referred to as “the owner”) at any time after the commencement of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and—

(a)at the time when the owner acquired the dwelling-house he was a member of the regular armed forces of the Crown;

(b)at the commencement of that tenancy the owner was a member of the regular armed forces of the Crown;

(c)not later than the commencement of that tenancy the owner gave notice in writing to the tenant that possession might be recovered under this Case;

(d)the dwelling-house has not, since the commencement of the said Order of 1983, been let by the owner on a protected tenancy with respect to which the condition mentioned in paragraph (c) was not satisfied; and

(e)the court is of the opinion that—

(i)the dwelling-house is required as a resident for the owner; or

(ii)of the conditions set out in Part V of this Schedule one of those in paragraphs (c) to (f) is satisfied.

If the court is of the opinion that, notwithstanding that the condition in paragraph (c) or (d) above is not complied with, it is just and equitable to make an order for possession of the dwelling-house, the court may dispense with the requirements of either or both of these paragraphs, as the case may require.

For the purposes of this Case “regular armed forces of the Crown” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975.]

PART IIIN.I.PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CASE 8

A court shall not make an order for possession of a dwelling-house by reason only that the circumstances of the case fall within Case 8 in Part I if the court is satisfied that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the question whether other accommodation is available for the landlord or the tenant, greater hardship would be caused by granting the order than by refusing to grant it.

PART IVN.I.SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION

1.  For the purposes of Article 13(1)( a), a certificate of the Executive or of a registered housing association certifying that the Executive or the registered housing association, as the case may be, will provide suitable alternative accommodation for the tenant by a date specified in the certificate, shall be conclusive evidence that suitable alternative accommodation will be available for him by that date.N.I.

2.  Where no such certificate as is mentioned in paragraph 1 is produced to the court, accommodation shall be deemed to be suitable for the purposes of Article 13(1)( a) if it consists of either—N.I.

(a)premises which are to be let as a separate dwelling such that they will then be let on a protected tenancy, or[F13 (other than one under which the landlord might recover possession of the dwelling-house under one of the Cases in Part II of this Schedule)]

(b)premises to be let as a separate dwelling on terms which will, in the opinion of the court, afford to the tenant security of tenure reasonably equivalent to the security afforded by Part III of this Order in the case of a protected tenancy[F13 of a kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)].

and, in the opinion of the court, the accommodation fulfils the relevant conditions as defined in paragraph 3.

3.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph 2, the relevant conditions are that the accommodation is reasonably suitable to the needs of the tenant and his family as regards proximity to place of work, and either—N.I.

(a)similar as regards rental and extent to the accommodation afforded by dwelling-house provided in the neighbourhood by the Executive for persons whose needs as regards extent are, in the opinion of the court, similar to those of the tenant and his family; or

(b)reasonably suitable to the means of the tenant and to the needs of the tenant and his family as regards extent and character.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)( a), a certificate of the Executive stating—

(a)the extent of the accommodation afforded by dwelling-houses provided by the Executive to meet the needs of tenants with families of such number as may be specified in the certificate, and

(b)the amount of the rent charged by the Executive for dwelling-houses affording accommodation of that extent,

shall be conclusive evidence of the facts so stated.

4.  Accommodation shall not be deemed to be suitable to the needs of the tenant and his family if the result of their occupation of the accommodation would be that it would be an overcrowded dwelling-house for the purposes of the Public Health Acts or the Housing Acts.N.I.

5.  Any document purporting to be a certificate of the Executive or of a registered housing association named therein issued for the purposes of this Schedule and to be signed by a member of the Executive or by an authorised employee of the Executive or by a member of the committee of the registered housing association, as the case may be, shall be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is shown, shall be deemed to be such a certificate without further proof.N.I.

[F14Part VN.I.Provisions applying to Cases 11, 12 and 18

1.  In this Part of this Schedule—N.I.

“mortgage” includes a charge;

“owner” means, in relation to Case 11, the owner-occupier; and

“successor in title” means any person deriving title from the owner, other than a purchaser for value or a person deriving title from a purchaser for value.

2.  The conditions referred to in paragraph (1)(c) of Case 11, in paragraph (c) of Case 12 and in paragraph (e)(ii) of Case 18 are that—N.I.

(a)the dwelling-house is required as a residence for the owner or any member of his family who resided with the owner when he last occupied the dwelling-house as a residence;

(b)the owner has retired from regular employment and requires the dwelling-house as a residence;

(c)the owner has died and the dwelling-house is required as a residence for a member of his family who was residing with him at the time of his death;

(d)the owner has died and the dwelling-house is required by a successor in title as his residence or for the purpose of disposing of it with vacant possession;

(e)the dwelling-house is subject to a mortgage, made by deed and granted before the tenancy, and the mortgagee—

(i)is entitled to exercise a power of sale conferred on him by the mortgage or by section 19 of the Conveyancing Act 1881; and

(ii)requires the dwelling-house for the purpose of disposing of it with vacant possession in exercise of that power; and

(f)the dwelling-house is not reasonably suitable to the needs of the owner, having regard to his place of work, and he requires it for the purpose of disposing of it with vacant possession and of using the proceeds of that disposal in acquiring, as his residence, a dwelling-house which is more suitable to those needs.]

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