UUP supports Mandatory Registration of all Private Landlords
Ulster Unionist Social Development spokesman and North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain today supported Assembly moves calling on the Minister for Social Development to legislate for the mandatory registration of all landlords in the private sector.
In a statement Mr Cobain said,
“The case for registration is self-evident. The numbers of people living in the private rented sector has grown steadily over the last decade primarily because of our inability to satisfy the housing need in the public sector.
As an example many of the housing studies clearly show a need to build between 2000-2500 housing units each year in the public sector in order to meet housing demand.
In 2008 we are planning to build and complete 600 new homes in the public sector. That in no way addresses the need and obviously will drive a number of additional families into the private rental sector. We already have 80,000 homes in the private rental sector which represents over 11% of our total housing stock.
There are a number of issues specific to the private rented sector.
In 2001 the level of unfitness in the private rented sector was in the region of 9% and although this figure had fallen to almost 6% by 2004 it was still higher than the overall unfitness level in Northern Ireland. The fact that this sector provides accommodation for the most vulnerable, has sector of 80000 houses, has unfitness levels higher than the overall average makes the case for compulsory registration.
No one wants to penalise landlords in any way. Instead we need to work with and encourage landlords to improve housing conditions and standards.
I believe that the registration scheme would be an ideal vehicle to achieve these ends.”