RentsN.I.
8.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a registered housing association may fix the amount of rent to be charged for any housing accommodation which it provides—
(a)under a tenancy granted by it on or after the day of the coming into operation of this Part; or
(b)under a tenancy—
(i)granted by it before that day, and
(ii)in respect of which the Department has not made a determination under paragraph (2).
(2) The Department, if it considers it appropriate to do so, may make a determination with respect to the rent to be charged under a tenancy granted by a registered housing association before the day of the coming into operation of this Part.
[F1(3) The power conferred on a registered housing association under paragraph (1) may be exercised to fix the amount of rent to be charged under a tenancy by way of an equity‐sharing lease, whenever granted.]
(4) For the purposes of[F1 paragraph (2)] the Department—
(a)may make a determination with respect to a particular tenancy or a general determination with respect to a class of tenancy or to tenancies generally; and
(b)may make exceptions to a general determination.
(5) A general determination—
(a)shall be made with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel; and
(b)may fix a rent in such manner as the Department considers appropriate including, in particular, by reference to a scheme made under Article 17 of the Order of 1981 (scheme to determine rent to be charged by the Executive).
(6) Paragraph (2) does not apply to any housing accommodation provided under a co-ownership tenancy, that is to say a tenancy—
(a)granted by a registered housing association whose rules restrict membership to persons who are tenants or prospective tenants, and preclude the granting or assignment of tenancies to persons other than members; and
(b)under which the tenant (or his personal representatives) either by virtue of the tenancy agreement or the agreement under which he became a member of the association may be entitled on ceasing to be a member of the association to a sum calculated by reference, directly or indirectly, to the value of the house of which he is a tenant.
(7) The power conferred on a registered housing association under paragraph (1) may be exercised to increase the rent payable under a tenancy, but such power—[F1 may be exercised in relation to any particular tenancy on one occasion only during any financial year]
(8) Article 26 of the Order of 1981 (increase of Executive rents) shall apply to registered housing associations and their tenants in the same manner as it applies to the Executive and its tenants.