Informing the social housing reform process

Nicola McCrudden, Policy Manager with Housing Rights Service, explains what the Housing Rights Service feels the Social Housing Reform Programme needs to contain to cater for clients.

The housing landscape in Northern Ireland is about to change radically. The Social Housing Reform Programme is well and truly underway, with the Department for Social Development already asking for stakeholders’ views. Given the scale of the task the timeframe is challenging, with the final reforms being implemented by March 2017.

The first stage of the Department’s programme involves setting up design principles to guide the process. Housing Rights Service has been asked to submit some initial thoughts around these principles.  We have responded with the following which we believe best captures the interests of our clients.

Better homes and services for tenants and people in housing need

This principle must be at the heart of the reform process. After all, tenants and people in housing need are the main stakeholders. They should be involved in consultation; be part of the decision making process; and inform the eventual delivery model.  We believe that tenants should be offered choice. The process should therefore be consumer focused, with consumer impact being uppermost in the minds of decision makers.

Protect the vulnerable

Any new system for social housing must protect the most vulnerable, including people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. Society must ensure that the statutory duty to house, advise and support people who cannot house themselves is protected. We must continue provide good quality housing, with security of tenure, at affordable rents.

Fairness and equity

The Housing Executive has responsibility for allocating public housing on a fair and equitable basis. It has done so successfully. We believe this is a fundamental principle which must be retained in the new system.

Accessible

The new delivery model for social housing must be accessible. Many of our clients cannot access online services and rely on face to face or telephone contact.  The former is particularly relevant for homeless people and rural communities. With 32 local outlets the Housing Executive is accessible at a local level. This accessibility must feature largely in considerations.

Quality

It is paramount that all social housing landlords’ systems are quality assured; that standards are guaranteed; and that there is uniformity and consistency throughout the social housing sector. Currently this is not the case. Delivery of high quality, tenant focused services must be standardised across social housing.

Accountable

All social housing providers must be accountable.  Currently the Housing Executive as a public body is accountable to Government. The same level of accountability does not apply to non public bodies such, as housing associations, as they are independent.  Not only is it paramount to ensure public accountability in terms of financial management, value for money and governance but also from our clients’ perspective there must be robust systems for redress. The role of regulation is central to this process which we feel would be better delivered through an independent body.

Protect what works

Throughout the decades of its existence the Housing Executive has built up a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise. It is important not to lose sight of the successes which the Housing Executive has achieved. As part of this reform process we should protect what works locally.

This last point is one worth stressing. Yes - we can learn from experiences and good practice in other jurisdictions but we also need to make sure that the new housing system is informed by our own experiences and that it is designed specifically to meet the needs of Northern Ireland.

The Department have set up a dedicated area of their website to Social Housing Reform. This includes useful information for stakeholders on the process at hand.