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When everyone has a home

028 9024 5640: Housing & Debt Helpline for Northern Ireland

Money Matters

The importance of the adviser role when helping people in housing debt

4 August 2016

Levels of personal debt have grown significantly in the last number of years and consequently debt problems have become an increasingly large area of work for many advisers. The recession has exacerbated these problems for many people. Where a client’s debts include a housing element such as rent or mortgage arrears they risk losing their home if these debts are not addressed. 

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Money Matters, Practical tips

Northern Ireland sees biggest fall in home ownership in the UK

2 August 2016

Northern Ireland has seen home ownership fall from 73% at its peak in 2006, to 63% now. A think tank from the Resolution Foundation used data from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey (LFS) to look at home ownership in the UK. 

They found that Northern Ireland has seen the biggest fall in home ownership in the UK.

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Money Matters, Research, Private Tenancies, Affordability

Supporting those who work to make people more financially capable

24 May 2016

Affordability is the fastest growing issue for people who contact Housing Rights for advice. Increasingly, housing providers are also recognising the important role that they can play in supporting tenants’ financial wellbeing, by teaching them how to maximise their income and make wiser spending decisions.  

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Money Matters, Practical tips

Clients must report change of circumstance triggered by living wage increase

5 April 2016

This week sees the adoption of a new minimum living wage of £7.20 per hour in Northern Ireland.   Research suggests that 13% of workers in NI should see their wages increase as a result of the new National Living Wage being adopted in November of this year.  However, this increase will only apply to workers aged 25 or older.  

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Benefits, Money Matters

Benefit Cap to be rolled out in Northern Ireland

23 March 2016

The benefits cap is to be introduced to Northern Ireland from 31st May, 2016.

What is the benefits cap?

The cap is contained in the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, and places a limit on the total amount of benefits working-age households can receive. Benefits which count towards the calculation of the cap are:

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Benefits, Money Matters, Welfare Reform

Housing Rights response to NIHE Consultation on draft Financial Inclusion Strategy

21 January 2016

Housing Rights has responded to the NI Housing Executive’s draft Financial Inclusion Strategy 2015-2018. The key elements of the draft strategy are:

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Money Matters, Social Tenancies, Policy

Response to NIHE Financial Inclusion Strategy

Consultation Response
January 2016

Housing Rights supports the Housing Executive’s aim of tackling financial inclusion by improving their customers’ financial wellbeing. We view this strategy as a positive recognition by the Housing Executive of their role in supporting tenants in this area.

PDF icon Housing Rights Response to NIHE Financial Inclusion Strategy Jan16.pdf

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Money Matters, Social Tenancies, Policy

Evason working group publishes welfare reform mitigations package

20 January 2016

Professor Eileen Evason’s working group has published its report on how Welfare Reform should be mitigated by the NI Executive. The group’s recommendations include the full mitigation of the “bedroom tax”, and the mitigation of the household benefits cap, for an initial period of 4 years.

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Benefits, Money Matters, Social Tenancies, Welfare Reform, Policy

Credit Union research shows high usage of moneylenders among NI public

16 December 2015

Research from the Irish League of Credit Unions shows that over 270,000 people in Northern Ireland have used moneylenders or payday loans while a further 193,000 people would consider using these services.

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Money Matters, Affordability

Fuel poverty and the impact on children

21 October 2015

The impact on child health as a result of fuel poverty was the subject of a recent seminar held in Belfast. Housing Rights is well used to dealing with enquiries about problems with heating systems, lack of sufficient heating and financial issues relating to the cost of heating a home. In many cases this can have a knock-on effect on the condition of the home such as dampness and condensation. But, an impact that is often hidden is the effect a cold home can have on children.

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Fitness, Money Matters, Affordability

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