England · Private rented sector
Landlord templates, Portstewart.
Tenancy agreements, notices, and compliance documents for Portstewart landlords. All documents updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025, effective 1 May 2026.
Landlord count (est.)
1,800
Local authority
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Distance to Coleraine
5 miles south-east via A2 and local roads (approximately 10-12 min by road)
Key demand driver
Ulster University Coleraine campus (5,000-6,000 students; approximately 4-5 miles south-east); Causeway Hospital Coleraine (approximately 700-800 staff; Northern HSC Trust); North Coast tourism (Giant's Causeway 12 miles; Bushmills Distillery; Portstewart Strand National Trust Blue Flag)
Tenancy framework
Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006
Portstewart rental market, what landlords need to know
Portstewart is a seaside resort town on the north coast of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, administered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, situated approximately 2 miles west of Portrush on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Portstewart is distinct from its neighbour Portrush in character — Portstewart is quieter, more residential, and more orientated towards the promenade (the Victorian coastal walkway along the cliff edge), the Strand (one of Northern Ireland's finest beaches — 2 miles of unspoiled Atlantic strand, managed by the National Trust as part of the North Coast estate; awarded Blue Flag beach status), and the town's established residential and rental community. Portstewart is best known outside Northern Ireland as a student town — it is one of the principal rental locations for students attending the Ulster University Coleraine campus, which is situated approximately 4-5 miles south-east of Portstewart on the outskirts of Coleraine town. The Ulster University Coleraine campus has approximately 5,000-6,000 students studying across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (including courses in life and health sciences, social sciences, education, arts, and the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment). The student rental market in Portstewart is one of the most established and resilient rental demand drivers in the Causeway Coast area — students at the Coleraine campus have traditionally rented in Portstewart and Portrush in preference to Coleraine town itself (the seaside quality of life; beach access; town amenities). The Causeway Coast is one of Northern Ireland's principal tourism corridors — Portstewart is situated within easy reach of: the Giant's Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site (approximately 12 miles east); Old Bushmills Distillery (approximately 10 miles east — the world's oldest licensed whisky distillery, established 1608); Dunluce Castle (approximately 8 miles east, National Trust); the Dark Hedges beech tree avenue (approximately 18 miles south-east — one of the most photographed landmarks in Northern Ireland, now on the Game of Thrones tourist trail). The A2 coastal road (the Causeway Coastal Route) connects Portstewart east to Portrush (approximately 2 miles) and west to Castlerock and Coleraine (approximately 5 miles). Key employers in and accessible from Portstewart: Ulster University Coleraine campus (approximately 5 miles south-east — the university directly employs teaching and research staff, administrators, and facilities workers; many university employees rent in Portstewart or Portrush); Coleraine town commercial sector (Coleraine is the main service centre for the Causeway Coast area — approximately 5 miles south-east by road; significant retail; professional services; public sector employment); Causeway Hospital Coleraine (approximately 4 miles south-east — Northern HSC Trust; emergency medicine; general surgery; maternity; approximately 700-800 staff); DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) Coleraine area offices; Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (headquartered in Ballymoney approximately 12 miles south); the tourism and hospitality sector (North Coast hotel and hospitality employment — Portstewart Strand; Morelli's ice cream; Portstewart Golf Club — the Dunluce Links championship course approximately 2 miles east at Portrush; North Coast surf and water sports). Rental demand in Portstewart: strong year-round student rental demand (Ulster University Coleraine term-time occupancy); Coleraine and Causeway Hospital healthcare workers; Ulster University academic and administrative staff; DAERA and council employees; tourism and hospitality workers (seasonal summer demand spike); North Coast lifestyle inward migrants. Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006 applies; NI Landlord Registration mandatory at landlordregistrationni.gov.uk.
Essential documents for Portstewart 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 Portstewart 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
Portstewart landlord FAQs
Is NI Landlord Registration required for a rental property in Portstewart?
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 Portstewart. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council enforces private rented sector standards. HMO licence required from the council for properties with 3 or more persons from 2 or more households — particularly relevant given the substantial Ulster University Coleraine student house-share market in Portstewart.
Does the Renters' Rights Act 2025 apply to landlords in Portstewart?
No. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 applies only in England. Landlords in Portstewart 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.