Committee for Social Development focus on repossession

The Committee has decided to hold an stakeholder event on Repossessions and Negative Equity in the NI Housing Market. It will take place on Thursday 6th June at 2pm-4.30pm at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast. The event will consider the scale of the problem, consider approaches taken in other jurisdictions and identify potential solutions. Housing Rights Service is assisting the Committee with the event.

Rate liability in the private rented sector

The Department of Finance and Personnel has issued a consultation on liability for rates payments in attempt to clarify the current complex arrangements under rating and contract law between landlord and tenant. Housing Rights Service has been invited to brief the Committee for Finance and Personnel about the issue on Wednesday 5th June at Stormont. We have concerns that the proposals will not actualy simply the current system for tenants. The document can be read here.

Supporting People

We have submitted a response the Housing Executive's Housing Related Support Strategy document.

Supporting people faces challenging times with the onset of welfare reforms. However we believe an opportunity now exists to improve and reconfigure services and, in particular, to shift the focus to delivering sustainable outcomes which would help vulnerable people to become more independent and self-resilient. The proposed new strategy proposes major changes to the programme including a greater synergy with health, the introduction of procurement, a greater emphasis on service user empowerment, and hopefully a new approach to regulation and inspection.