Practical tips

The question of liability for rates in rental properties continues to be a major concern to our tenants.  Sarah Corrigan, Housing Adviser, discusses a recent case where this issue raised its head for a vulnerable, homeless single mother living in temporary accommodation arranged by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Members of Housing Rights gathered in June to learn about the most recent updates in housing policy and practice.  This was the latest in our series of Housing Advice Practitioners Forum, a regular event that provides members with an opportunity to keep abreast of latest developments and to discuss approaches and strategies for complex cases.

Stephen’s client, Esther, is a Housing Executive tenant who had previously fallen into rent arrears.  Esther said she’d been too embarrassed to talk to someone when she first fell into arrears and hadn’t gone to court when the Housing Executive had applied for a possession order.  In her absence, the judge granted a Possession Order with a stay.  This meant that Esther could continue to live in her home as long as she kept to the terms of the order, which were made by the judge in court.  Thi