our policy responses
Housing Rights Service is committed to a joint approach in our work on housing and homelessness policy. We have contributed to a range of consultation processes that impact on the lives of our clients. Our views are informed from the experiences of our clients, and from consultation, where possible, with our members.
response to the review of domestic rating:the rating of empty homes issued by department of finance and personnel
Download our response (56.4kb)
August 2008
response to northern ireland housing executive's "a strategy for houses in multiple occupation in northern ireland
Download our response (101kb pdf)
June 2008
Response to building a better future, draft budget 2008-2011 & Draft investment strategy 2008-2018
December 2007
Download our response to the draft budget (124kb pdf)
response to NorTHERN ireland housing executive's "Private rented letting-a guide for landlords"
November 2007
NIHE sought consultation on this document which seeks to provide guidance and information for landlords
Download our response to this draft guide (74.5kb pdf)
response to Northern ireland housing executive's"Housing matters"
September 2007
NIHE recently undertook a review of their Housing and Health policy grouped around their six corporate objectives. Our response highlights concerns facing our clients specifically with regard to housing standards, the lack of temporary accommodation and availability of support services for specific client groups as well as the quality of advice available to older people
Download our response (61kb pdf)
Response to draft code OF PRACTICE on racial equality in the provision of housing and accomodation
May 2007
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has developed a Draft Code of Practice: Racial Equality in the provision of housing and accommodation. The code of practice will provide guidance for housing and accommodation, within both the public and private sectors, on the law and good practice.
Download our response to the code (87kb pdf)
Response to the review of affordable housing interim report
January 2007
House prices in Northern Ireland have more than tripled in the past ten years. The latest house price index from the University of Ulster suggests that the average price of a home has risen by over 32%, with the average property price in Northern Ireland standing at £180,128 in the third quarter of 2006.
On 5th September 2006 Social Development Minister David Hanson publicly launched an affordability review to establish ways to make housing more affordable for people on low incomes.
Download our response to the interim report (115kb pdf)
The Draft Rates (Amendment) (NI) Order 2006
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september 2006
The issue of affordability is becoming an increasing problem for many who use our service. Last year Housing Rights Service dealt with over 13,000 enquiries of which 15% were directly related to affordability. We have serious concerns about the potential impact rates increases and water charges could have on low income households. In seeking to influence the rating reform policy, our main objective is to get assurances from Government that people will not be financially disadvantaged as a consequence of any increases and risk losing their home as a result. Download our response (44kb pdf) A new deal for welfare: empowering people to work
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april 2006
Our comments are confined to the proposals contained in Chapter 6 - 'A Radical New Approach to Housing Benefit.' Overall, we welcome Government's aim of promoting choice for Housing Benefit claimants and creating a fairer, simpler and more transparent system for private tenants. However, it is difficult to comment on the proposals having had no direct experience of the impact of the new system locally. Download our response (44kb pdf) A Strategy for Supporting Delivery of Voluntary Advice Services to the Community
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april 2006
Housing Rights Service acknowledges that the advice sector is about to undergo significant change and welcomes the development of a more strategic approach to the delivery of advice services which will hopefully bring about sustainability. We consider this document as an attempt to provide a strategic framework for the future of advice services, but have serious concerns about the lack of detail and unclear and inconsistent use of some terminology. Download our response (65kb pdf) Response to private tenancies order (ni) 2005
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january 2006
New legislation to reform the law relating to private tenancies in Northern Ireland was released for consultation in November. It has been almost 30 years since the introduction of the last major piece of legislation to govern the sector. The Draft Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2005 focuses on targeting unfitness and disrepair through a system of enforcement and rent control. Housing Rights Service welcomes some parts of the legislation, but believes it does not go far enough. Download our response (123kb pdf)