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Housing Rights

When everyone has a home

April 2016

Department for Social Development's Review of the fitness standard

27 April 2016

The Department for Social Development’s review of the Fitness Standard is currently underway. The Department is seeking views on what should be included within a revised standard, how a revised standard may be enforced and how the enforcement arrangements will be conducted going forward.

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Housing pledges in #AE16 manifestos

27 April 2016

With the upcoming 2016 Assembly Election, we take a look at the housing pledges in party manifestos.

Housing Rights believes prevention of homelessness is the best cure. We feel strongly that the Executive must ensure that advice and support is available at the right time, to help people remain in their homes. It is encouraging that the need for this support is recognised by many of the parties in their #AE16 comments on housing.

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JRF launch report on Destitution in the UK

27 April 2016

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) have today published a research report on ‘Destitution in the UK.’

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Fitness, Welfare Reform, Homelessness, Equality

Assembly Roundup: April 2016

26 April 2016

Allocation of social housing

To ask the Minister for Social Development for an update on the Housing Selection Scheme review. Mr Andy Allen, UUP AQW 55639/11-16

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Landlord Liability for defective premises judgment

25 April 2016

A recent Northern Ireland Court of Appeal judgment, Argue V Northern Ireland Housing Executive Neutral [2016] NICA 18 (5 April 2016) considers the provisions of the Defective Premises (Landlord's Liability) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001.

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Social Tenancies, Private Tenancies, Case law, Landlord, Legal

ADVISER: Deprivation of capital

21 April 2016

When Brian first spoke to Housing Rights, he was living in a private tenancy and his only income was carer’s allowance. He was in arrears with his rent and at risk of eviction by his landlord. At this stage, Brian was not entitled to Housing Benefit, but our adviser agreed to take on his case and look into how she could help him.

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Benefits, Practical tips, Affordability, Adviser

Eligibility decision not discrimination or disproportionate

20 April 2016

The UK Supreme Court recently considered issues around eligibility of certain foreign nationals for certain benefits and housing assistance.

In Samin v Westminster City Council [2016] UKSC 1 the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which sought to incorporate a proportionality requirement into the statutory test for eligibility, and to argue that the test itself was discriminatory under EU law.

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Minority Groups, Homelessness, Case law, Legal

Housing Rights responds to consultation on Housing Adaptations

20 April 2016

Housing Rights has recently responded to an Inter-Departmental Review of Housing Adaptations Services, carried out by the Department for Social Development and the Department of Health.

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Fitness, Social Tenancies, Policy

Review of rate liability in the Domestic Rental Sector

20 April 2016

There is a public consultation on rate liability in the domestic rental sector.

The aim of the consultation is to develop a domestic rates policy that is

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How HATP helped me in my job - Ciara from Methodist City Mission

14 April 2016

Ciara Duffy is a Resettlement Officer, with North West Methodist Mission. She recently attended out Housing Advice Training Programme in Derry/Londonderry. Here, she explains how undertaking the 4 day course has helped her do her job.

April changes to benefits

13 April 2016

Each April, the Government introduces a number of changes to social security benefits. We recently updated Housing Law in Practice NI with these changes:

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New public services ombudsman office established

13 April 2016

The Office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman was established on 1 April 2016. This new office replaces the former offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Complaints.

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Delivering On Tenant Participation – Conference report

12 April 2016

We had over 90 delegates attend the Housing Rights and Supporting Communities conference on Monday 11 April 2016.

#Homes4all: Housing and Homelessness Hustings

5 April 2016

Housing Rights is pleased to join with the Council for the Homeless, the Chartered Institute of Housing NI and the NI Federation for Housing Associations to convene a Housing and Homelessness Hustings on Friday 15 April from 14:00 to 16:00 at the Girdwood Community Hub in north Belfast, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim BT14 6EG.

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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

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