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When everyone has a home

028 9024 5640: Housing & Debt Helpline for Northern Ireland

Coronavirus

Universal Credit changes to hit self-employed hard 

23 July 2021

Your monthly Universal Credit payment may decrease soon if you are self-employed. This is a result of the reintroduction of the minimum income floor and the gainful self-employment tests.  

Universal Credit staff can start to apply the "minimum income floor" to any person it believes to be in gainful self-employment from August 2021.  

This change could cause a big reduction in income for certain people. You should speak to your work coach urgently if 

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Coronavirus, Legislation, Welfare Reform

Covid-19 & Dealing with Rent Arrears

16 April 2021
Picture of calculator sitting on top of bill

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on all our lives.  As well as health concerns, many have been struggling with financial issues. It's important that people claim any financial help they can. The Make the Call service can help to identify benefits and entitlements you may be able to claim.

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Coronavirus, Affordability

Covid-19 & Dealing with Mortgage Debt  

15 April 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on all our lives.  As well as health concerns, many have been struggling with financial issues. The option to apply for a mortgage holiday has now ended. Instead,  lenders should offer "tailored support" to any mortgage holder struggling to pay. 

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Coronavirus, Repossession

12 week notice period extended to end September 2021

25 February 2021

Regulations have been laid which extend emergency measures to increase the amount of notice which must be given to private tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 come into operation on 30 March 2021. They extend the emergency period during which extended notice is required to 30 September 2021. 

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Coronavirus, Private Tenancies

Housing Rights recommends changes to Support for Mortgage Interest loans

18 February 2021

In January, the Financial Conduct Authority published guidance requiring lenders not to enforce possession against homeowners until 1 April 2021.

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Benefits, Coronavirus, Repossession, Policy

Resolution Foundation Research on Housing and Covid-19

18 January 2021

The UK think tank Resolution Foundation has produced a number of essential reports on the Covid-19 crisis over the past 9 months, including the most recent report focused on the necessity of reforming Statutory Sick Pay to support the Covid-19 recovery phase.

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Benefits, Coronavirus, Research, Affordability

Surveys show discrimination and prejudice towards the Traveller community  

11 January 2021

A number of recent reports shine a stark light on the sub-standard conditions members of the Traveller community often live in. 

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Coronavirus, Minority Groups, Outside NI

Housing Rights sees two and a half times increase in the number of private tenants contacting them for advice about their landlord selling up

14 December 2020

In the past year, a local charity has seen a 2.5 fold increase in the number of people seeking help because their landlord is selling their home.

Housing Rights advice manager Brenda Parker stressed the importance of private renters understanding their rights, and not feeling pressured to move early just because the property is for sale.

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Changes to income assessment rules for rates rebate

14 December 2020

New regulations have been laid which will amend the income assessment rules for rates relief. The Rate Relief (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 are in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and the explanatory memorandum makes reference to a wider "ongoing policy development" of the rates relief scheme. The new regulations will come into effect on 4 January 2021.

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Coronavirus, Legislation

Tenants’ rights when landlord wants to sell

10 December 2020
showing over 500% increase in renters seeking advice because property is for sale

Our advisers have noted an increase in the number of people contacting us for help because their home is being sold by their private landlord. 

We’ve already received as many calls about this issue in the first 9 days of December than we had during the whole of March, April and May of this year.It’s important that tenants know what their rights are if their landlord decides to sell their home, and know how to get advice and help if they do need to move. 

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Coronavirus, Private Tenancies, Practical tips

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