Proposals designed to address housing stresses across Northern Ireland have been outlined.
Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has set out a series of priorities including increasing supply, improving the private rented sector and building more social properties.
“We will put front and centre our commitment that every household has access to a good quality, affordable and sustainable home that is appropriate for its needs,” she said.
“Increasing housing supply is one of the main challenges we face and increasing this supply across all tenures will be crucial.
“Of course social housing will be at the core of my programme to tackle housing stress and increase housing supply for many including families, the elderly and those with disabilities. However, it is only one part of the whole housing system and improving the supply of social housing will not, in isolation, reduce housing stress.”
Ní Chuilín noted that linked to this is ensuring the best use of the existing stock.
“The Housing Executive, as a social housing landlord, owns some 86,000 homes but the investment challenges these homes face is no secret with more than £7.1bn investment needed over 30 years to simply maintain the status quo.
“Our priority must be to ensure the Housing Executive as a landlord is sustainable.
“Good housing is not just about the fabric of the house, but includes issues such as affordability, availability and security of tenure. It is people-centred, focused on delivering on objective need and the principles of fairness and equality.
“Primarily, houses are not investments. They are people’s homes.”
source: insidermedia
