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When everyone has a home

028 9024 5640: Housing & Debt Helpline for Northern Ireland

Policy & Research

Our policy work is based on the experiences of people who contact us for advice. We work on their behalf to secure positive changes to housing legislation, policy and practice in Northern Ireland. You can read more about what we are striving to achieve in the coming year by downloading our policy priorities.

Below, you will find copies of policy briefings, consultation responses and research papers that Housing Rights has produced recently.

Involving Everyone - Including 'Easy to Ignore" Groups in Housing Policy and Strategy Development in Northern Ireland

Research Paper
September 2015

The aim of this research was to assess and make recommendations for the greater involvement of ‘easy to ignore’ groups in housing policy and strategy development in Northern Ireland, with particular emphasis on engagement with the Social Housing Reform Programme. 

PDF icon Easy to Ignore Full Report - June 2015.pdf
PDF icon Easy to Ignore Executive Summary.pdf

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Minority Groups, Research, Policy

Response to Proposals for a New Regulatory Framework for Social Housing Providers in NI.

Consultation Response
June 2015

Housing Rights has responded to the Department for Social Development's consultation on Proposals for a New Regulatory Framework for Social Housing Providers in Northern Ireland.

PDF icon Housing Rights Response Proposals for a New Regulatory Framework for Social Housing Providers in Northern Ireland Jun 15.pdf

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Social Tenancies, Policy

Reponse to consultation on Tenant Participation Strategy in NI

Consultation Response
April 2015

Housing Rights recently responded to the second in a series of consultations issued by the Department for Social Development on the reform of social housing.

As a rights-based organisation, we support the enhancement of tenants’ rights. We welcome the proposals that tenants should have a stronger role to play in how their landlord provides and develops their housing services. However, we believe that participation should be available to more people; not just tenants.

This consultation response makes a number of key points. 

PDF icon Tenant participation response_090415.pdf

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Regulation, Policy

Housing Rights & Law Centre NI joint response to consultation on rate rebate scheme

Consultation Response
February 2015
Housing Rights and the Law Centre welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation .  We have found that issues about rates, and help with rates, are becoming more of a priority for our clients; especially in debt cases. Non-payment of rates can lead to serious consequences such as bankruptcy, threat of homelessness and imprisonment. We also encounter many cases where the liability for rates between the landlord and tenant is unclear.  In general, we support the Department proposal to introduce a new rate rebate scheme in line with UC.  However, we do have a number of concerns with regards to backdating, appealing decisions and provision for hardship cases.
 
PDF icon HRS LCNI response to rate rebate replacement_160215.pdf

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Benefits, Policy

Housing Rights Response to Scope of Legal Aid

Consultation Response
January 2015

Housing Rights believes that access to justice is paramount in any democracy.  The consultation paper sets out the cost of some of the areas which are proposed to be removed from Legal Aid and Advice (Green Form). Those areas which cover housing related issues, which HRS would be concerned with, amount to a small percentage of the overall Green Form expenditure. Despite it being a small proportion of the overall expenditure, removing such funding could have a devastating effect on the lives of people who potentially need this assistance. Therefore, we strongly feel that the funding of housing related cases should be protected.

PDF icon Response to Scope of Civil Legal Aid_290115.pdf

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Policy, Equality, Legal

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