125. Our inquiry has shown the dedication and commitment of many in the housing sector. This has resulted in difficulties with the new build programme being tackled, innovative work by Northern Ireland Housing Executive to pilot integrated housing schemes^,[186] and strategy development for the private rented sector, fuel poverty, and other issues. But much more remains to be done.

126. If urgent action is not taken a crisis in the supply of social housing seems inevitable. The number of people on the Common Waiting List has increased significantly, particularly those who are in housing stress and those who are homeless. 26,700 people are currently seeking social housing, of whom nearly half are in housing stress. The number of homeless households increased by 16% last year to 16,426. At the same time, the supply of social housing is falling dramatically due mainly to house sales where the number sold exceeds the remaining NIHE stock. The present situation has been exacerbated through the failure over recent years to meet the targets for new building. A balance of supply and demand needs to be achieved as a matter of urgency.

127. The general perception that the overall quality of housing in Northern Ireland is good masks problems such as high levels of unfitness in the private rented sector and high levels of fuel poverty. The absence of a challenging quality standard in the social housing sector is a cause for concern.

128. Our greatest concern is that policies on many housing issues such as the house sales scheme, the co-ownership scheme, and the private rented sector have been developed in isolation with insufficient assessment of their overall impact on the general provision of housing in Northern Ireland. In addition, responsibility for housing issues ranges across at least four departments which makes co-ordination across government difficult. The Social Development Minister indicated that a number of the issues we raised were the responsibility of Ministerial colleagues.

129. We call on the Government to develop a strong and inclusive regional housing strategy setting out a vision for housing in Northern Ireland along the lines, for example, of the National Housing Strategy for Wales.[187] The fundamental objective must be to ensure that housing strategy development and delivery is fully co-ordinated with all other key regional and local policies and strategies.

187   Better Homes for People in Wales, A National Housing Strategy for Wales, The National Assembly for Wales, July 2001. Back