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NI Assembly

Minister announces review of Private Rented Sector

7 November 2014

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA has announced a review of the private rented sector.

Speaking at our Bigger & Better conference yesterday, the Minister said “…now is the right time to look again at the regulation of the private rented sector.”

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Private Tenancies, NI Assembly

Charities urge MLAs to Keep On Supporting People

31 October 2014

Campaigners, representing the 106 organisations that provide services under the Supporting People programme, are calling on MLAs to commit to continuing these services for vulnerable people.

Pictured with Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey MLA are Michael Abiona (NIACRO service user), Patricia Hyde, Declan O’Neill and Alex Patterson (Triangle), and  Moira McKeown (NIACRO).

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Policy, NI Assembly

Private tenants share their concerns with MLAs

27 October 2014

A little piece of history was made last week when, for the first time, MLAs heard directly from private tenants about their experiences of living in the private rented sector. The meeting followed on from the Committee for Social Development’s attendance at Housing Rights Service where they conducted their normal weekly business meeting.

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Private Tenants Forum, Private Tenancies, NI Assembly

DSD briefs Social Development Committee on allocations plans

23 October 2014

Housing Rights Service played host to the Committee for Social Development today.  During the meeting, Dr Heloise Brown and Paul Price from the Department of Social Development (DSD) summarised public responses to recent proposals to reform the allocation system for social housing and answered members' questions on this issue. 

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Research, Social Tenancies, Policy, NI Assembly

New plans to alleviate impact of welfare reform

21 October 2014

The DUP has proposed a new fund to help those transitioning from Disability Living Allowance on to the new Personal Independence Payment.  

First Minister Peter Robinson has put the party’s proposals to Secretary of State Teresa Villiers.   Mr Robinson believes that these measures will mean many of the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland will “come out of the transfer to PIP with the same level of payments or better off."

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Policy, NI Assembly

Initial evidence on NI possessions published by DSD

3 July 2014

The Repossessions Taskforce established by Housing Minister Nelson McCausland, briefed the Social Development Committee on their initial findings on 3rd July 2014.   The taskforce's  Initial Evidence Paper: NEGATIVE EQUITY, ARREARS AND 

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Repossession, Policy, Affordability, NI Assembly

Labour Party Bid to Ban Letting Fees Fails

14 May 2014

The Labour Party has failed in an attempt to ban letting agents from charging fees to private rented tenants.

MPs defeated by 53 votes the party’s amendment to the Consumer Rights Bill to ban letting agent fees. Only three Conservative and Lib Dem MPs supported the opposition move however five Northern Ireland MPs were in support of the amendment (Mark Durkan, Lady Herman, Naomi Long, Ian Paisley and Jim Shannon).

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Landlord, NI Assembly

Further delays to Landlord Registration

13 November 2013

With the focus of government firmly on the future of social housing in Northern Ireland it is perhaps not surprising that issues relating to the private rented sector are lower on the Department for Social Development’s (DSD) agenda.

This is particularly evident in regard to the long awaited project to introduce a registration scheme for landlords – a provision for which was first included in the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

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Private Tenancies, Landlord, NI Assembly

Taking Control: a Financial Capability Strategy for NI

29 July 2013

As representatives on the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI) Financial Capability Forum Housing Rights Service has contributed to the development of a Financial Capability Strategy for Northern Ireland (NI). 

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Policy, Affordability, NI Assembly

Taking Control: a Financial Capability Strategy for NI

Consultation Response
July 2013

Housing Rights Service welcomes the publication of the draft strategy. Through membership of the Financial Capability Partnership (FCP), Housing Rights Service is represented on DETI’s Financial Capability Forum and has been involved in the strategy’s development. Housing Rights Service is keen to continue to work with DETI and the FCP on the development and implementation of the strategy.

This response looks at the vision and priority areas for action contained within the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment's Financial Capability Strategy.  

Housing Rights Service is particularly pleased that Financial Inclusion has been identified as a priority within the strategy. However, it is very disappointing that none of the practical areas for action relate specifically to promoting Financial Inclusion.
 
We are strongly of the opinion that the NI Executive must take the lead in identifying the issues and working with stakeholders, such as local financial institutions and housing providers, to ensure its citizens are financially included.
PDF icon Taking Control FC response July 2013.pdf

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Policy, Affordability, NI Assembly

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