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Supporting a landlord through a sensitive tenancy situation

2 July 2025
  • Landlord

Carrie, a private landlord in Northern Ireland, had been letting her property to a tenant for a while. However, when the tenant was admitted to the hospital on a long-term basis, rent payments stopped and communication ceased.

Faced with increasing financial pressure and unable to pay the mortgage on the property due to missed rent, Carrie felt she had no option but to end the tenancy and re-let the property. She issued a notice to quit with the appropriate notice period, but received no response from the tenant and wasn’t sure whether they had even received the notice. She also wanted to gain access to the property to prepare it for re-let. 

Carrie was uncertain about how to proceed and contacted Landlord Advice for guidance.

Our advice

We gave Carrie advice to help her understand her legal responsibilities in this complex and sensitive situation.

We advised Carrie that:

  • as the tenant had not returned to the property or removed their belongings, the tenancy remains ongoing and due process must be followed to end the tenancy lawfully
  • she must not enter the property except in an emergency, or remove belongings without permission from the tenant

We provided clear steps for Carrie to follow:

  • keep a detailed record of all attempts to contact the tenant
  • consult a solicitor regarding next steps, which may potentially involve applying for a possession order
  • consider using Housing Mediation to help re-establish communication with the tenant in a neutral and supportive environment

Further support

Recognising Carrie's financial strain, we also discussed options for recovering rent and possible interim steps to help restore rental income. 

We also advised Carrie to consider using Housing Mediation to help re-establish communication with the tenant and work toward a solution. 

Outcome

Our advice gave Carrie peace of mind, helping her comply with her legal responsibilities as a landlord in navigating a sensitive situation. 

Further advice

If you're a registered landlord in Northern Ireland and need advice, get in touch