New affordable housing policy published
New affordable housing policy aims to create an additional supply of intermediate rent homes.
The Department for Communities (DfC) has published a new affordable housing policy which aims to create an additional supply of intermediate rent homes, providing a new affordable housing option.
The new policy, which sets out the framework to allow for the development of more high-quality, long-term, affordable housing with support services comes following a public consultation on the new intermediate rent policy, which gathered views on how this new housing product should work.
What is intermediate rent?
Intermediate housing for rent is a new form of affordable housing and those interested in developing and letting residential properties may consider developing these as intermediate for rent. Intermediate rent seeks to offer a more secure, affordable, and supportive rental option for eligible households who are struggling with the costs of market rentals.
What are the benefits of this new housing policy?
Under new planning arrangements, planners may require the development of affordable housing, including intermediate housing for rent, in some new residential developments in line with the Local Development Plans (LDPs) of Northern Ireland councils.
This new policy sets out the framework for the delivery of intermediate rent and so may be of interest to those undertaking development and/or submitting planning applications and those seeking to deliver this form of affordable housing as part of their organisation's social ethos. The policy is supplemented by a Homes for Intermediate Rent Design Guide which outlines how these homes should be developed and finished for letting.
Who does this new housing policy apply to?
The new policy may apply to businesses operating in the planning, construction, development, letting, tenancy, enforcement, or advocacy.
When does the new policy come into force?
This policy comes into force from 30 March 2023, the date of publication, for anyone seeking to develop or market a housing product as intermediate housing for rent. The policy will not be applied retrospectively.
What if I don't comply with the new policy?
As intermediate rent tenancies are a form of private rented tenancy, anyone acting as an intermediate rent landlord is bound by the law in place for private tenancies. Those in breach of private tenancy law may be subject to enforcement by Environmental Health Officers or through the courts.
Anyone granted planning permission to deliver intermediate housing for rent would be bound by enforceable conditions attached to that planning permission by the council. These conditions are expected to reference adherence to the intermediate rent policy.
Financial support
DfC continues to work on the necessary arrangements to provide financial support towards the development and letting of intermediate rent homes. It is expected that this funding will be made available to a single entity that will act as the intermediate rent operator. DfC will make available information about that funding in due course. As there will be a limit to the value of any support available from DfC, organisations are at liberty to deliver homes as intermediate for rent outside of the DfC's fund arrangements.
Further information
Read full details on the new housing policy for intermediate rent.
First published 30 March 2023