Etain Ní Fhearghail

The Government has responded to a House of Lords Committee report on financial exclusion. In its response, it has rejected Committee recommendations to remove the requirement to remove waiting days from Universal Credit for all claimants and to allow direct payment of housing costs to landlords in England and Wales.

Universal Credit claimants will typically wait six weeks before receiving their first payment. While those who have applied immediately after leaving employment may be able to sustain themselves during this six-week period with their final payment of wages.

Tenancy legislation provides people with vital protection against homelessness, by legislating against harassment and unlawful eviction and ensuring that certain rights are enshrined in law. Some agents have tried to circumvent these protections by issuing tenants with “licence agreements”, which purport to diminish the tenant’s legal status.

Officials from the Department for Communities attended our Housing Advice Practitioner’s Forum, to elicit feedback from attendees on their proposals for change to the private rented sector in Northern Ireland.

During the meeting, Department officials outlined the main proposals, which relate to the following key areas: