People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin has called for Stormont MLAs to back his party’s amendment on the New Deal for Renters Bill.
Said the Foyleside councillor: “Stormont has the opportunity to make a difference for families in Derry trapped on the housing waiting list and struggling with unaffordable rents by backing People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll’s amendment to the New Deal for Private Renters Bill on Monday in the Assembly.
“Derry has a record highest number of applications on the housing waiting list across the North. The Housing Executive has been forced to use non-standard accommodation here at unprecedented levels.
“Private rents in Derry are beyond the reach of many families.
“The Stormont political establishment created housing scarcity by facilitating privatisation and running down the Housing Executive over many years.
“Rents are skyrocketing because the Stormont Executive failed in its responsibility to build housing and regulate rental costs.
“No one but government is to blame for housing scarcity and skyrocketing rents. We won’t allow anyone to be scapegoated to deflect from catastrophic government failure.
“Their inaction is making the housing crisis worse week in and week out for people trapped on the waiting list, struggling to cover unaffordable rent hikes and facing eviction.
“We call on Stormont to stop tinkering around the edges of housing scarcity and back Gerry Carroll’s amendment.
“The Housing Crisis is an emergency that requires urgent action, not further posturing by Stormont parties.”
“Now is the time for action, not next week, next month or next year.”
Gerry Carroll’s amendment to the New Deal for Private Renters Bill:
“That this Assembly expresses concern at the unaffordable rents, lack of long-term security and inadequate protections for tenants in Northern Ireland’s private rented sector; recognises that many private renters face a constant struggle to keep a roof over their heads, afford daily essentials, or access the basic repairs necessary to make their homes habitable and safe; and calls on the Minister for Communities to deliver a new deal for private renters, including a considered system of third-generation rent controls or a rent freeze, followed by a phased rent reduction, a ban on no-fault evictions, legislation to make open-ended tenancies the norm for private tenants, creation of a statutory Housing Ombudsman and establishment of a Rental Board to enforce minimum fitness standards and rent controls, measures to boost the supply of affordable rental properties and social housing, in recognition that the supply of social housing has a direct impact on the security and affordability of homes in the private rented sector, and a review of minimum fitness standards and enforcement in the private rented sector.”
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