Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 Notice to quit: private tenancies 1 1 During the emergency period, Article 14 of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (length of notice to quit) has effect in relation to a notice to quit given by a landlord as if— a in paragraph (1), for “the relevant period” there were substituted “ 12 weeks ” , and b paragraph (1A) were omitted. 2 In subsection (1), “ the emergency period ” means the period— a beginning with the day after the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent, and b ending with 4th May 2022 . 3 The Department may by regulations amend the date specified in subsection (2)(b) to another specified date. 4 The power in subsection (3) may be exercised on more than one occasion so as to further amend the date. 5 Any amendment of the date specified in subsection (2)(b) cannot result in the emergency period ending later than— a 2 years beginning with the day after the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent, or b such shorter period as the Department may by regulations specify. 6 Regulations under this section are subject to negative resolution. Power to alter notice period 2 1 The Department may (subject to subsections (2) and (3)) by regulations amend section 1(1)(a)— a to alter the reference to 12 weeks to— i a reference to 6 months, or ii a reference to any other specified period which is less than 6 months, or b to alter a reference which has been altered by virtue of paragraph (a) or this paragraph. 2 A reference which has been altered by virtue of subsection (1)(a) or (b) cannot result in the reference being to a specified period of more than 6 months. 3 Regulations under subsection (1) may not alter the reference in section 1(1)(a) to a period of more than 12 weeks in the case of— a a landlord who needs to live in the dwelling-house, or b a landlord of a tenancy in which the tenant, or any other person residing in the tenant's household, engages in serious anti-social behaviour after this Act comes into operation. 4 Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular— a make provision about the meaning of “needs to live in the dwelling-house” and “engages in serious anti-social behaviour” in subsection (3); b make provision about the evidence to be provided to show that a case falls within subsection (3)(a) or (b). 5 Regulations under subsection (1) are subject to negative resolution. Power to make further provision 3 1 The Department may by regulations make provision for a statutory provision to have effect with modifications in consequence of any provision of this Act. 2 The Department may by regulations make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with— a any provision made under subsection (1); b the coming into operation of this Act; c the emergency period coming to an end. 3 Regulations made under this section containing provision which modifies Northern Ireland legislation may not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly. 4 Any other regulations made under this section are subject to negative resolution. Interpretation 4 1 In this Act— “ the Department ” means the Department for Communities; “ the emergency period ” has the meaning given by section 1(2). 2 Expressions used in this Act and in the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 have the meaning given in that Order. Commencement 5 This Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which this Actreceives Royal Assent. Short title 6 This Act may be cited as the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications)Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.