England · Private rented sector
Landlord templates, Holywood.
Tenancy agreements, notices, and compliance documents for Holywood landlords. All documents updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025, effective 1 May 2026.
Landlord count (est.)
1,800
Local authority
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Distance to Belfast city centre
8 miles west via A2 (rail approx. 10-15 min; road approx. 15-20 min off-peak)
Key demand driver
Belfast professional commuter; BBC Northern Ireland; Belfast City Airport; Ulster Hospital Dundonald
Tenancy framework
Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006
Holywood rental market, what landlords need to know
Holywood is an affluent coastal town in County Down, Northern Ireland, administered by Ards and North Down Borough Council, situated approximately 8 miles north-east of Belfast city centre on the southern shore of Belfast Lough on the A2 Bangor Road. The town is one of the most desirable residential locations in Northern Ireland — attractive Victorian and Edwardian residential architecture; the historic High Street and Church Road retail and hospitality offer; Redburn Country Park; proximity to Belfast Lough and the North Down coastal path. Holywood is the location of BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters at Broadcasting House on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast city centre — many BBC NI production and editorial staff live in Holywood. The town is also known for being the hometown of Rory McIlroy (professional golfer) and as a desirable address for Belfast professional and business community residents. Holywood railway station is on the Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) Belfast-Bangor line — services to Belfast Great Victoria Street and Belfast Lanyon Place take approximately 10-15 minutes, making Holywood one of the most accessible Belfast commuter towns in Northern Ireland. The A2 Bangor Road dual carriageway provides fast road access to Belfast (approximately 15-20 minutes in off-peak). Key employers accessible from Holywood include: Titanic Belfast and the wider Queen's Island business and creative quarter; Belfast Harbour; Belfast City Airport (George Best Belfast City Airport — BHD — approximately 3 miles north-west of Holywood on the Queen's Island); Ulster University Belfast campus; Queen's University Belfast; the NHS (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; Ulster Hospital Dundonald — approximately 3 miles south); Ards and North Down Borough Council. Holywood North Down is a highly sought-after address — strong rental demand from Belfast professionals, NHS consultants, BBC NI staff, legal and financial sector workers seeking family homes near Belfast with a coastal semi-rural environment. Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006 applies; NI Landlord Registration mandatory at landlordregistrationni.gov.uk.
Essential documents for Holywood landlords
View all →Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement
The new default English tenancy from 1 May 2026. Periodic from day one, with the prescribed written statement of terms built in. Ships with the Form 4A rent-increase notice template and an Information Sheet delivery acknowledgement form so a buying landlord has every Phase-1 compliance document in one pack.
Section 8 Notice Pack (All Grounds)
Every mandatory and discretionary ground on the new 2026 list, pre-labelled with the notice period, arrears threshold, and evidence block.
Landlord Annual Compliance Checklist
Annual walk-through of every compliance touchpoint: gas, electrical, EPC, smoke/CO, Right-to-Rent, deposit, licensing, database registration.
Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack
For landlords who need to migrate existing ASTs onto the new regime. The single most-searched landlord product of 2026.
What changes for Holywood landlords on 1 May 2026
- → Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions permanently abolished, use Section 8
- → All new tenancies must use Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreements, no more ASTs
- → Rent increases via Section 13 only, contractual review clauses unenforceable
- → Pet requests must be considered, blanket ‘no pets’ policies are unlawful
- → Private landlord database registration coming, date TBC
Holywood landlord FAQs
Is NI Landlord Registration required for a rental property in Holywood?
Yes. NI Landlord Registration is mandatory for all private landlords in Northern Ireland. Register at landlordregistrationni.gov.uk before advertising or letting any residential property in Holywood. Ards and North Down Borough Council enforces private rented sector standards in the Holywood area. Registration is property-specific, lasts 3 years, and must be renewed. For HMOs (3 or more persons from 2 or more households), a separate HMO licence is required from Ards and North Down Borough Council under the Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (NI) 2016.
Does the Renters' Rights Act 2025 apply to landlords in Holywood?
No. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 applies only in England. Landlords in Holywood and throughout Northern Ireland operate under the Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006. NI Landlord Registration is the primary mandatory compliance obligation for private landlords in Northern Ireland.