AQW 17692/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 21/04/2021
Answered On Date: 13/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities how she is addressing ongoing anti-social behaviours that impact Housing Executive and social housing tenants and the wider community.

Answer:

The Housing Executive and registered housing associations (RHAs) have a range of powers at their disposal for dealing with antisocial behaviour (ASB).

The Department’s Regulatory Framework for RHAs requires social housing providers to work in partnership with other agencies to ensure neighbourhoods are safe and that ASB is tackled effectively. All RHAs are required to have an ASB policy and the Department will seek evidence of compliance with policies when instances of ASB arise.

My Department is represented on a multi-agency Delivery Group established by the Department of Justice to consider the findings from recent consultation by that Department, to review ASB legislation, and to ensure that relevant agencies have effective and proportionate enforcement powers in place.

The consultation outcome report on the Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations included proposals for legislative changes that will enable the Housing Executive to ensure that, prior to the award of a tenancy, it is content that an applicant has not been involved in unacceptable behaviour that would make them ineligible.

the Department has provided guidance to the Housing Executive to assist decision making on eligibility in light of anti-social/unacceptable behaviour.