AQW 19490/22-27

Mr Andy Allen MBE
Ulster Unionist Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 06/12/2024
Answered On Date: 07/01/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the progress made in identifying and repurposing vacant properties to address housing shortages.

Answer:

The Department of Finance’s Land & Property Services (LPS) maintain a register of Vacant Domestic Properties.

LPS provides my Department with information that enables insight into the location of vacant properties, however they routinely caution that their figures should not be relied upon for accuracy. Since the introduction of Rating of Empty Homes in October 2011 there is no financial advantage or requirement for homeowners/ ratepayers to notify LPS that the property is vacant. As such, data provided for any period after October 2011 may not be wholly accurate.

Furthermore, the unknown condition of these dwellings presents additional complications. Many may require substantial renovations, lack essential utilities, or be involved in ownership disputes or court proceedings.

My Department has also published a new Housing Supply Strategy on 9th December to address the wider challenges facing housing supply. It recognises the need to consider actions around the use of existing buildings to regenerate additional housing supply.