Debate contribution: New Deal for Private Renters in Northern Ireland

Debate contribution by Ms Cara Hunter on 24 February 2025.

MLA

Ms Cara Hunter

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

24 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

New Deal for Private Renters in Northern Ireland

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4814006

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members to my right for bringing forward this important motion and Gerry for his amendment. Our communities are under unprecedented strain and stress. Families are forced to pay an ever-increasing share of their income on rent. Reports show that rents in Belfast are now, on average, over £1,000 per month, which is absolutely insane. In one year, homelessness has shot up by 17% due to a lack of available rental properties on the market, which means that hundreds of families across our constituencies have been left with no home and nowhere to go. Rents are becoming sky-high. Many parents are choosing between paying those rents and providing basic needs, such as food or childcare. The costs of paying for rent, electricity, heating and transport are an increasing pressure on parents. I spoke to one person who said, "As soon as my money goes in, it goes out, and we are all left with very little". Rental inflation has soared by as much as 9% this year, pushing average monthly rents to a record £942, which is totally unsustainable for working families here. Undoubtedly, the rising cost of rent has profound, far-reaching impacts on quality of life. Parents cannot afford to give their children a trip to the cinema, a birthday party or a new pair of school shoes, because they have no choice but to keep a roof over their heads. Other Members have rightly mentioned the need to consider our student population. Over the years, I have spoken to NUS-USI, which does a fantastic job in describing the lived experience of our students, who are undoubtedly impacted on by rogue landlords — not all landlords are like that, but there are certainly some — who know that our students are young; that, often, it is the first time that they have signed a rental contract; and that there is very little advice for them on how to do so. That means that students often experience damp in their houses, which has a negative impact on their health and studies. Alarmingly, two in five students have contemplated leaving their studies as a direct result of the crushing financial pressure of unaffordable housing and housing that is not fit for purpose. All the contributions today have mentioned data and statistics, but, ultimately, we are talking about real people. It is a daily reality for parents, students and hard-working individuals who have been forced, by the ever-rising costs, to sacrifice stability and security. It is important to recognise that it is not a personal failure of our constituents but a systemic failure: insufficient housing supply has placed pressure on some of our most vulnerable citizens. It is imperative that we invest in affordable housing, reform rental regulations and support initiatives that give families and students the stability that they desperately need and rightfully deserve. I have the Minister tortured when it comes to the north coast, but it is important to reiterate that there is a unique dynamic in our coastal areas, which are tourist attractions. Those areas are squeezed. There are not enough rental properties on the market, and, therefore, rents are going through the roof. Single parents are struggling to pay their rent, because they have only one income. The situation is contributing to the collapse of our communities and forcing people to live elsewhere, which is heartbreaking to see.

Thank you. I thank the Member for his intervention. It is really important to note that. I know, Minister, that you are tortured by me, but we need to hear a commitment from the wider Executive on the matter. It continues to grow and grow year-on-year and undoubtedly impacts on my constituents and those in other impressive areas across the North. To conclude, I will touch on some Members' comments. Kellie Armstrong said that the issue of housing and rising rents is really impacting on the well-being of families here, adding stress to their everyday lives. Ms Nicholl spoke about the challenges that students face. Gerry Carroll mentioned the number of empty houses in the North that could be used yet lie empty today. Of course, we need to talk about the moments when landlords take advantage of tenants. Mr Gildernew talked about the importance of recognising the strain that it puts on families in all of our communities. Brian Kingston said that PropertyPal reports that 73 enquiries are made about any rental property, which shows how competitive housing is becoming in the North. Mr Butler rightly said that, for us collectively, housing is our number-one issue. Therefore, as a collective in the Chamber, we must recognise that it needs to be a priority for the Executive. It certainly is for the Opposition. I know that we all feel devastated when we cannot help, so I would like the Minister to do all that he can and work with his Executive colleagues to ensure that the issue is resolved. Housing is a human right, not a privilege.

837 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:01 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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