AQW 47517/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/06/2026
Answered On Date: 23/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether any assessment has been made of the impact of private rented sector affordability on demand for social housing.

Answer:

Affordability pressures in the private rented sector, alongside constrained supply, can contribute to increased demand for social housing.

To help address affordability challenges, I introduced legislation to limit rent increases to once every 12 months, with a three-month notice period.

I am taking forward a range of measures to increase the supply of affordable homes across all tenures in Northern Ireland, as this is key to improving long-term affordability. To achieve this, I have established a 15-year Executive Housing Supply Strategy, which includes building more social homes.