Social Development Committee to visit Housing Rights Service

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Social Development Committee will hold its next meeting at 10am on Thursday 23 October  at Housing Rights Service.

Committee members will receive a briefing from the Social Security Agency on Improving Benefit Uptake and from Department for Social Development officials on the Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations Policy.

Hearing from the Private Tenants Forum

Following the public meeting, the Committee will meet with staff of Housing Rights Service. The MLA's will also meet members the Private Tenants Forum to discuss some of the current issues and concerns in the private rental sector. 

Background to the Private Tenants’ Forum

The Private Tenants' Forum was set up in October 2012. Its aim is to encourage tenant participation in shaping relevant legislation, policy and practice in the private rented sector in Northern Ireland.  Members of the forum are drawn from people who have encountered problems in rented accommodation and wish to see an improvement in standards.

Members of the forum will also be speaking at the major conference on the future of private renting organised by Housing Rights Service on 6 November in Belfast.