20 January 2003
HOUSING REFORM ORDER LAID AT WESTMINSTER
Wide-ranging proposals to reform the law governing social housing in Northern Ireland are contained in the draft Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 which was laid at Westminster today.
The Order covers the matters contained in the Housing Bill that had reached Committee Stage when the Assembly was suspended. The Secretary of State has decided that the legislation should be processed by Order in Council at Westminster.
Running to 149 clauses and five schedules, the proposals are the first changes to housing law for more than a decade and cover a wide range of issues.
These include measures to help deal with anti-social behaviour in housing estates; grants to improve the standard of private sector housing; the provision of caravan sites for Travellers and a registration scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Commenting on the draft Order, Des Browne MP, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development said:
"It is important that we take forward the valuable work of the Assembly in preparing these long-overdue reforms. The Order will plug gaps in the current legislation and give us powers to deal more effectively with major housing issues that must be addressed.
"Contrary to what some people are saying, there is nothing unexpected or unduly severe about the proposals in the Order. Many people have been calling for some time for these reforms.
"We need to deal urgently with problems such as anti-social behaviour by tenants and address the safety concerns about students living in multiple occupancy houses. These are just two of the raft of issues set out in the Order which will bring benefits to tenants in both public and private sector housing."
"I am confident that this Order will provide a strong and up to date foundation on which future legislation can build."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Order and its Explanatory Memorandum are available on the Department of Social Development’s website at
www.dsdni.gov.uk
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