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Government Housing Politics Stormont

Residential Property Prices Increase to £200,000 Average

Land & Property Services, supported by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, has released the latest Accredited Official Statistics on the House Price Index for Quarter 2 2026. The Northern Ireland House Price Index, based on HMRC stamp duty data, forms part of the UK House Price Index, ensuring figures are directly comparable with […]

Categories
Community Constituency Government Housing Newry Newry and Armagh Stormont

Emergency Housing in Northern Ireland: What REALLY Happens to Your Housing Points?

By Kevin McAteer If you are homeless and the Housing Executive places you in emergency or temporary accommodation, do you lose your housing points? Here is what the official rules actually say. There can be a lot of confusion around Northern Ireland’s social housing points system. One question in particular regularly causes concern: “If the […]

Categories
Community Constituency Housing Newry Newry and Armagh

Locals First Initiative: Urgent Investigation Needed into Newry, Mourne and Down Housing Executive Properties

Locals First Initiative is calling for an urgent, independent investigation into the condition of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s housing stock in Newry mourne and Down and whether some properties being allocated to vulnerable tenants are genuinely fit for habitation. Representatives from Locals First Initiative recently attended two properties that had been offered to vulnerable individuals […]

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Community Constituency Housing Newry Newry and Armagh

Locals First Initiative: Greed Over Homes? How HMOs Are Pricing Local Families Out of Newry, Mourne and Down

By Locals First Initiative Across Newry, Mourne and Down, many local families believe they are being pushed out of the housing market. The continued growth of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) is, they argue, reducing the number of homes available to buy or rent, making it increasingly difficult for young couples and families to remain […]

Categories
Community Government Housing Stormont

Housing Executive Consults on Draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy

A new public consultation has been launched by the Housing Executive on its draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy. Outlining the organisation’s approach to improving accommodation outcomes for Irish Travellers, the draft strategy will run until 2031 and the twelve-week, public consultation finishes on September 28, 2026. Interested parties can give their views on the Consultations […]

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Community Constituency Council Education Government Health Housing Infrastructure Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council Politics Stormont Westminster

Locals First Initiative: Our Opposition Is to Government Policy, NOT Migrant Workers or Those From Different Backgrounds!

Statement: In recent months, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance have attempted to portray the Locals First Initiative as being opposed to immigrant workers and people from different backgrounds. That claim is simply untrue. Our position has been consistent from the very beginning. We stand for the people of Newry, Mourne and Down—regardless of their […]

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Community Constituency Housing Newry Newry and Armagh Politics

Locals First Initiative Demands Urgent Action on Housing Crisis

Northern Ireland is facing an unprecedented housing crisis, with almost 50,000 households currently waiting for a social home and thousands more trapped in temporary accommodation. The latest figures paint a stark picture of growing housing demand, rising homelessness, and increasing pressure on already stretched public services. At the end of 2025, there were 49,755 households […]

Categories
Community Government Housing Stormont

Older Residents Offered Help With Rent and Rates

Older people across NI are being asked to check if they could receive help with housing costs, including rent or rates, through the Housing Benefit scheme. Administered by the Housing Executive, help is available to pension-age customers who are finding it difficult to meet essential household costs, particularly those living on fixed or lower incomes. […]

Categories
Community Housing

Eleven Years of Recognising Rural Heroes

Laughter, connection and true community spirit were in abundance at our heart-warming 11th annual Housing Executive Rural Community Awards ceremony. Held in The Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy, Co Derry/Londonderry and supported by the Rural Community Network and the Northern Ireland Housing Council, the event celebrated the dedication of rural groups and individuals in improving […]

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Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Housing Newry Newry and Armagh

Cost of Renting In Newry, Mourne and Down Up 53% Since 2020

The cost of renting a home in Newry, Mourne and Down has increased by 53% since the start of the Covid pandemic, new research from PropertyPal reveals today. The average rent on a residential property in the borough was £567 in Q1 2020 and had increased to £867 at the end of 2025, according to […]

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Community Constituency Housing Newry Newry and Armagh

Newry Residents Beat Winter Blues With Walk and Talk

Members of St Mary’s Youth & Community Association in Newry have been building local connections and getting active thanks to a funding boost from the Housing Executive. The group received a £1110 Community Cohesion grant to plan a 9 mile walk along the Greenway route from Carlingford towards Newry. Afterwards, the group enjoyed lunch together […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Housing

Housing Executive Announces Rent Increase

The Housing Executive has announced its annual rent increase. From 6th April, 2026, rents will increase by 4.8% – this equates to an increase of £3.94 on the average weekly rent, which is currently £82.04, excluding rates. All tenants will be contacted over the next few weeks to advise of their new rent charges and what […]