AQW 22616/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 14/02/2025
Answered On Date: 19/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any specific measures within the Housing Supply Strategy that will address the impact of second home ownership on the availability of affordable housing in coastal communities in East Londonderry.

Answer:

I recognise that the issue of second home ownership is causing concern in some specific areas in relation to the potential impact on housing affordability. There is very limited data available on second homes which makes it difficult to establish their extent, location and what impacts they may have.

For example, the latest Census for Northern Ireland showed that six percent of all houses had no usual residents. There are a range of possibilities for this including that they are truly vacant, being renovated, self-catering/short-term lets or second homes.

My Department is carrying out research on second home ownership to improve our understanding of the issues.

More broadly, the first objective of the Executive Housing Supply Strategy aims to ensure we deliver more affordable options across all tenures and work is underway to take forward the first action plan.

This work will supplement action to address locally specific issues that may impact on housing requirements in an area, which is primarily taken forward by Local Councils working closely with the Housing Executive Place shaping teams. This includes through the delivery of Local Development Plans, which are responsible for establishing policies to ensure the spatial growth requirements of the local area can be met.