Housing Executive future

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced his intention to abolish the Housing Executive’s current structure. Under his plans, the Department for Social Development would take responsibility for overall housing strategy and funding.

A ‘regional housing body’ would be staffed by housing professionals and deliver the non-landlord functions of the Housing Executive but the landlord function would be outsourced from the public sector.

An independent ‘social housing rent panel’ would agree annual rent levels.

“I acknowledge there is much detailed work to be done in taking these proposals forward,” the Minister said. “We can now move on to detailed consideration, design and engagement on how we can realise this vision.”

The agency was established in 1971 and fulfilled one of the key demands of the civil rights movement. An independent review, conducted by PwC in 2011, found that the current structures were unsuitable after poor contract management.

The SDLP defended the Housing Executive and strongly criticised the decision. “Those in need of social housing deserve nothing less than an efficient, effective, well-managed housing authority which will protect them from inequality,” said Housing Spokesman Mark H Durkan. Sinn Féin, the UUP and Alliance were less supportive of the Housing Executive and called for more detail.