The role of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is being expanded, it was announced today.
Approved Housing Bodies will be brought under its remit, meaning that tenants and landlords of housing association properties will also be able to access the services of the board.
According to the 2011 Census, nearly one in five households in the country were renting their accommodation in the private sector, and that number is estimated to have increased since then.
In addition, there over 30,000 tenants in the Approved Housing Body sector.
The agency is also changing its name to Residential Tenancies Board to reflect the change.
Ms Rosalind Carroll has been appointed as the new director of the PTB.
Ms Carroll, was formerly head of regulation of approved housing bodies at the housing agency.