Northern Ireland Executive announces delay to Housing Executive rent increase from 1 April to 1 October 2020

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the last thing people need is to face a rent increase this week, says Communities Minister

The Northern Ireland Executive has announced a delay to the Housing Executive rent increase of 2.7 per cent that was due to come into effect on 6 April 2020.

Confirming that, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the rent increase for Housing Executive tenants will not now come into effect until 1 October 2020, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said -

I am well aware that the Housing Executive needs a long-term revitalisation programme in order to deliver much-needed investment in its homes and neighbourhoods. One of my earliest decisions as Minister was to approve the first Housing Executive rent increase in five years, in recognition of this.

But we are now in a very different landscape. People are worried about their jobs, their income and whether they can pay their rent. The last thing they need is to face a rent increase this week.

I want to assure the Housing Executive’s tenants that the rent increase will not take effect until the beginning of October 2020.'

For more information, see Housing Executive rent increase put on hold due to Covid-19 from ni.gov.uk