East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden has said figures showing her constituency has one of the fewest vacant Housing Executive properties underlines the scale of the north coast’s housing crisis.
East Londonderry had just 32 unoccupied properties as of September 1. Only four of the remaining 17 constituencies had fewer, but the figures for these were comparable at 20, 26, 27 and 28 unoccupied properties. North Belfast had the most at 280. The figures were released to Ms Sugden following an Assembly question to the Minister for Communities.
“These figures, when looked at in comparison to this area’s growing homelessness problem, really underlines the limited options that exist here when people find themselves without a home,” Ms Sugden said.
“There is not enough social housing here, but this problem is being compounded by a shrinking pool of private rental properties.
“This problem has been growing for the past year or two, as private landlords sold properties they previously rented during the housing price boom. Those buying these houses have often been second-home owners keeping them as personal holiday homes as opposed to renting them long-term.
“We have seen growing numbers of older people, families and individuals being evicted through no fault of their own. Huge numbers of people have been competing for single houses, which has led to prices increasing beyond the reach of many locals.”
Half of the 32 houses referenced would not even be available for new tenants soon, Ms Sugden said.
“Sixteen of these properties have been listed as ‘non-actionable voids’, which is the term used when a house is being used as temporary accommodation, undergoing long-term maintenance, is being sold or transferred or is to be demolished,” she continued.
“This leaves just another 16 that will soon be available for renters – amid a waiting list that runs into thousands.
“Much more social housing needs to be built, but, particularly in this area, so do affordable private homes to buy or rent.
“There is a significant role for the Executive to play in this, but ultimately planning is the remit of local government.
“The planning department and councillors of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council must ensure that properties designed to house locals long-term are prioritised over expensive apartment developments aimed purely at the second-home and holiday let markets.”
