Consultation Response

Housing Rights notes that several aspects of our response to the previous ‘Review of Rate Liability in the Domestic Rental Sector’ have not been incorporated in the draft proposals. The specific issues raised, which largely relate to rates liability in the rental sector as well as rates recovery, are significant concerns for those who contact our advice service for assistance. It is with disappointment, therefore, that we note that none of these points have been progressed to the proposals contained in the current paper.

The substance of this response therefore contains specific comments on particular proposals contained in the ‘Rates Rethink’ paper, as well as reiterating points made in relation to the previous review of rate liability in the domestic rental sector, which the current proposals are silent on.

In the course of our work, we regularly advise and represent clients who are financially excluded. In our experience, financial exclusion is a significant concern in Northern Ireland, and the patterns of this exclusion are often distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom.  Housing Rights is therefore grateful for the opportunity to offer some comments on several topics highlighted in the Select Committee’s call for evidence.

Housing Rights is supportive of the broad ethos of the draft Framework in that the focus is on outcomes and achieved by cross departmental working.

However, Housing Rights is deeply concerned that the draft Framework, in its current form would fail to deliver change for those who need it most.
 

Housing Rights’ key concerns with the current system for domestic rates liability are in relation to affordability and transparency. 

Both these concerns are discussed in this response., along with specific comment on the proposals put forward by the Department in the consultation paper.