Affordability

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Findings  published recently revealed that household incomes, poverty rates and the labour market have all worsened in Northern Ireland (NI) in the last five years. In each case, this deterioration has been greater than in Britain.  NI also has a higher poverty rate than the rest of Ireland. Before housing costs, 21% of people in NI were in poverty in 2011 compared with 15% in the Republic of Ireland.

A number of consultation events are just about to get underway to look at new proposals for the operation and administration for the provision of energy efficiency improvements for low income households.

The events are being held as part of a consultation process which is looking at targeting help at low income households, regardless of whether they are in receipt of benefits. The events are being held as follows:

Housing professionals will be only too aware of the increase in the number of applications for possession of residential dwellings.  What many are less aware of is how useful an application for a Time Order can be to homeowners who risk losing their homes due to a secured loan or second charge.