Housing pledges in #AE16 manifestos

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.

Housing pledges in the manifestos

Housing Rights’ key asks for the next Assembly and Executive are grouped within four core areas which represent the top issues of concern for our clients – access, affordability, responsible regulation and conditions. Our synopsis of the issues raised by parties in their manifestos is laid out under each of these themes.

Access

All parties are agreed in the need for building new social and affordable housing.

Sinn Féin and the UUP aim to build 10,000 such homes over the next mandate, with the DUP aiming for a slightly lower 8,000. The UUP and DUP are also specifically supportive of allowing the NIHE to access finance for further development.

The SDLP and Alliance support the proactive identification of land, by the Executive, which is suitable for housing. The TUV have expressed support for the co-ownership model to encourage owner-occupiers in the province.

Affordability

Parties are generally supportive of continuing and expanding efforts to eradicate fuel poverty, which is an affordability concern for people across all housing tenures.

The SDLP have pledged to support first-time buyers by supporting the UK-wide ‘Help to Buy ISA’, as well as lobbying banks to provide competitive mortgage deals, similar to those in Great Britain, to first-time buyers in Northern Ireland.

The TUV support the creation of an Independent Housing Regulator, to oversee Housing Associations and specifically control social-sector rents.

Alliance and the Green Party support provision of independent advice to those in mortgage or rent arrears. Housing Rights’ Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme offers advice at court to homeowners and tenants, and can help sustain homes on an affordable basis.

Responsible Regulation

As well as the TUV’s support for an Independent Housing Regulator, the Alliance Party manifesto deals with regulation extensively, pledging to regulate letting agents through licensing (also supported by the UUP), improve the Private Rented Sector and better regulate private apartment developments. The Green Party also support introducing legislation to facilitate longer tenancies and introduce rent controls.

Conditions

Housing conditions are currently high on the policy agenda, with the recent Review of the Private Rented Sector and the ongoing review of the Northern Ireland Housing Fitness Standard across all housing tenures. Housing Rights are hosting an event on this consultation on 17th May .

The DUP propose a scheme of ‘bulk-renting’ from private sector landlords, in return for higher property standards. Alliance proposes enshrining higher standards in new legislation.

In addition to this, the UUP have proposed that from 2018, all private rented sector properties must achieve an ‘E’-grade or better in their EPC rating in order to be let. This would mirror the situation in England and Wales, and also contribute to reducing the impact of fuel poverty in the private rented sector, thus improving affordability.

Other housing related pledges

There is a widespread commitment amongst parties to address homelessness in Northern Ireland, particularly in the light of the recent deaths of several homeless people in Belfast. The UUP have proposed placing a duty to prevent homelessness on statutory agencies; similar measures have already been introduced in Wales, and are under discussion in England.

Parties also recognise the need for a homelessness strategy which is both cross-Departmental, and incorporates voluntary partners. Finally, the Green Party propose to remove the ‘Priority Need’ test from homelessness assessments.