New Build Social Housing Dwarfed by Housing Benefit Payments to Private Sector | Freedom of Information Archive | PPR

New Build Social Housing Dwarfed by Housing Benefit Payments to Private Sector

The Housing Executive refused to provide data about housing benefit payments made to HomeCare Housing, arguing that it would 'prejudice' the commercial interests of the company Right to a Home | Thu Nov 08 2018

Investment in new-build social housing by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is dwarfed by the housing benefit payments it makes to the private sector, according to figures released to PPR.

The figures show that investment in new social housing is 400 per cent less than housing benefit payments made to private landlords. Payments of over £400 million were made by the NIHE to private landlords from the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2018. Only $109 million during the same period was invested in new social housing.

Investment in new social housing vs housing payments to private sector property owners - figures

The financial data, released to PPR as a result of a freedom of information request, reveals a housing strategy that is ill-equipped to deal with the increasing levels of homelessness in the state.

A request for specific details about payments to HomeCare Housing was denied. The NIHC argued that this would prejudice the commercial interests of the company.