Motion

Addressing Unaffordable Housing Costs

Motion TitleAddressing Unaffordable Housing Costs

Motion TextThat this Assembly notes with concern the sharp rise in private rents across Northern Ireland; recognises that rapidly rising rents are outpacing incomes, increasing housing insecurity, and placing significant pressure on households; believes that existing measures are insufficient in protecting private tenants from excessive and unaffordable rent increases; further recognises that the continued loss of social housing stock places additional demand on the private rented sector, contributing to rent inflation; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to introduce robust third generation rent controls, alongside a moratorium on the House Sales Scheme to stabilise rents and improve housing affordability.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Motion TypeOpposition business

Date Tabled to Business Office06/01/2026

Date Selected By Committee06/01/2026

Date of Plenary Debate19/01/2026

View Official Report

Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mr Matthew O'Toole	MLA - South Belfast

Bills

Outcome/Voting

73 Members voted

45 Members voted AYE

28 Members voted NO

The Motion Was Carried, Simple Majority Lobby Division

MLA Name	Designation	Voted
Dr Steve Aiken OBE	Unionist	NO
Dr Caoimhe Archibald	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Kellie Armstrong	Other	AYE
Mr Danny Baker	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Cathal Boylan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Maurice Bradley	Unionist	NO
Ms Paula Bradshaw	Other	AYE
Mr Phillip Brett	Unionist	NO
Miss Nicola Brogan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr David Brooks	Unionist	NO
Ms Cheryl Brownlee	Unionist	NO
Mr Keith Buchanan	Unionist	NO
Mr Jonathan Buckley	Unionist	NO
Ms Joanne Bunting	Unionist	NO
Mr Jon Burrows	Unionist	NO
Mr Robbie Butler	Unionist	NO
Mrs Pam Cameron	Unionist	NO
Mr Gerry Carroll	Other	AYE
Mr Alan Chambers	Unionist	NO
Mr Trevor Clarke	Unionist	NO
Mr Stewart Dickson	Other	AYE
Mrs Linda Dillon	Nationalist	AYE
Mrs Diane Dodds	Unionist	NO
Miss Jemma Dolan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Danny Donnelly	Other	AYE
Mr Stephen Dunne	Unionist	NO
Mr Mark Durkan	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Connie Egan	Other	AYE
Mrs Sinéad Ennis	Nationalist	AYE
Mrs Deborah Erskine	Unionist	NO
Mrs Ciara Ferguson	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Aoife Finnegan	Nationalist	AYE
Miss Órlaithí Flynn	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Diane Forsythe	Unionist	NO
Mr Paul Frew	Unionist	NO
Mr Timothy Gaston	Unionist	NO
Mr Colm Gildernew	Nationalist	AYE
Mrs Michelle Guy	Other	AYE
Miss Deirdre Hargey	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Harry Harvey	Unionist	NO
Mr David Honeyford	Other	AYE
Ms Cara Hunter	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Declan Kearney	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Gerry Kelly	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Liz Kimmins	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Brian Kingston	Unionist	NO
Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly	Unionist	NO
Mr Gordon Lyons	Unionist	NO
Mr Declan McAleer	Nationalist	AYE
Miss Nuala McAllister	Other	AYE
Mr Daniel McCrossan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Patsy McGlone	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Colin McGrath	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Philip McGuigan	Nationalist	AYE
Miss Michelle McIlveen	Unionist	NO
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Andrew McMurray	Other	AYE
Mr Justin McNulty	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Peter Martin	Unionist	NO
Mrs Cathy Mason	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Nick Mathison	Other	AYE
Mr Andrew Muir	Other	AYE
Ms Sian Mulholland	Other	AYE
Miss Áine Murphy	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Mike Nesbitt	Unionist	NO
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín	Nationalist	AYE
Mr John O'Dowd	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Matthew O'Toole	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Alan Robinson	Unionist	NO
Mr Pat Sheehan	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Emma Sheerin	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Eóin Tennyson	Other	AYE
Mr Gareth Wilson	Unionist	NO

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	14/01/2026	Leave out all after ‘existing measures’ and insert: ‘alone are insufficient in protecting private tenants from excessive and unaffordable rent increases as demand outstrips supply; further recognises that insufficient capital investment in social housing stock places additional demand on the private rented sector, contributing to rent inflation; and calls on the Minister for Communities to review the House Sales Scheme to stabilise rents and improve housing affordability.’
2	15/01/2026	Leave out all after ‘rent inflation;’ and insert: ‘further believes that ultimately the delivery of more social and affordable homes is fundamental to ensuring access to affordable housing; and calls on the Minister for Communities to prioritise delivery of the Social Housing Development Plan, introduce a moratorium on the House Sales Scheme in order to stabilise social housing stock levels; and further calls on the Minister to explore options for the introduction of robust rent controls, and a public body to regulate the rental sector and deliver a fair rental system.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
15/01/2026	Leave out all after 'rent inflation;' and insert: ‘resolves that no MLA who has registered an interest as a private residential landlord should be permitted to vote on Assembly matters related to the private rented sector, or form part of the Committee for Communities; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to introduce robust rent controls, including a freeze and gradual reduction of private rents, alongside a moratorium on the House Sales Scheme to stabilise rents and improve housing affordability.’
14/01/2026	At end insert: ‘; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to explore the value of creating a Northern Ireland Housing Ombudsman, introduce caps on short-term holidays lets and consider how a regulatory framework for letting agents may best be taken forward.’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

15/01/2026

Leave out all after 'rent inflation;' and insert: ‘resolves that no MLA who has registered an interest as a private residential landlord should be permitted to vote on Assembly matters related to the private rented sector, or form part of the Committee for Communities; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to introduce robust rent controls, including a freeze and gradual reduction of private rents, alongside a moratorium on the House Sales Scheme to stabilise rents and improve housing affordability.’

14/01/2026

At end insert: ‘; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to explore the value of creating a Northern Ireland Housing Ombudsman, introduce caps on short-term holidays lets and consider how a regulatory framework for letting agents may best be taken forward.’

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