To ask the Minister for Communities what work his Department is undertaking with the private rented sector to improve safety for tenants in rented homes.

The Department is currently undertaking a review of the Role and Regulation of the Private Rented Sector. The standard of properties, including safety issues, is within the scope of the review. Proposals for change resulting from the review will be published for consultation in the coming months.

The Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 will improve standards in the HMO sector by ensuring that a landlord or any agent is a fit and proper person, and by checking the standards of physical accommodation as well as tenancy management standards. This will provide protection for tenants ensuring accommodation is safe, well managed and of good quality. New regulations under development will also require carbon monoxide alarms/detectors to be installed in all HMOs. It is the intention to have these completed and ready for implementation by April 2018.