Landlord templates, Derry.

Derry rental market, what landlords need to know

Derry (also known as Londonderry) is Northern Ireland's second-largest city (population approximately 108,000 in the city; approximately 150,000 in the wider Derry City and Strabane District Council area) and the principal city of the north-west of Ireland. Derry is located approximately 75 miles (120km) north-west of Belfast (approximately 80 minutes by road via the A6 dual carriageway; Translink Goldline coach services approximately 90 minutes) and approximately 140km north of Dublin. The A5 Western Transport Corridor — a major dual-carriageway upgrade under construction between Derry and the Republic of Ireland border (and beyond to Ballygawley in County Tyrone) — is one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the north-west, largely funded by the Irish Government as part of the Shared Island investment programme, and will significantly improve road connectivity between Derry and the Republic of Ireland (Dublin; Letterkenny in Co. Donegal which is 24 miles south). Derry is served by City of Derry Airport (Eglinton Airport), located 6 miles north-east of the city centre, with flights to London, Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, and other UK and European destinations. Translink NI Railways provides services from Derry (Londonderry railway station) to Belfast Central (approximately 2 hours 20 minutes — a rail improvement programme is under consideration). Derry is historically and architecturally unique: it is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the last surviving walled cities in northern Europe — the 17th-century city walls (built 1613-1619 during the Plantation of Ulster) are intact and encircle the original city centre (the area within the walls known as 'the Walled City'). Derry was designated a UK City of Culture in 2013, which catalysed significant regeneration investment in the city centre and the Ebrington Barracks area (a former British Army garrison converted into a cultural and commercial quarter). The Foyle Arts Centre, Guildhall Square, Museum of Free Derry, and Derry's maritime and industrial heritage (linen, shirt-making) are key cultural assets. Ulster University Magee campus — the Derry campus of Ulster University — is a central element of Derry's economy and growth plans. Ulster University has committed to expanding the Magee campus from approximately 5,000 students to 10,000 students as part of the North West City Deal — the £250m investment programme jointly funded by the UK Government, the Irish Government, and Derry City and Strabane District Council, which also includes the Derry-Letterkenny Innovation Centre and broader digital and infrastructure investments. The expansion of Magee is expected to significantly increase student rental demand in the city. Major employers include Derry City and Strabane District Council (local authority); Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT; Altnagelvin Area Hospital is the main acute hospital for the north-west of Northern Ireland — located in the Altnagelvin area of Derry, approximately 2 miles from the city centre; it is also a major trauma centre for the north-west); Ulster University (Magee campus); City of Derry Airport (aviation and associated logistics); a range of technology, professional services, and public sector employers; and cross-border businesses serving both the NI and Republic of Ireland markets (the proximity to Donegal and the wider Border Region makes Derry a hub for cross-border commerce). The private residential rental sector in Northern Ireland is governed by the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (as amended by the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 which introduced minimum 12-week (28-day) notice periods and other tenant protections) — not the English Housing Act 1988 framework. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) does NOT apply in Northern Ireland (housing is a devolved matter in NI). Private landlords in Northern Ireland must register with the Landlord Registration scheme operated by the Department for Communities at landlordregistrationni.gov.uk — this is mandatory and separate from the English/Welsh/Scottish landlord registration schemes. Northern Ireland mandatory HMO licensing applies at the lower NI threshold of 3 or more persons from 2 or more households (compared to England's 5+) — register HMOs with Derry City and Strabane District Council.