Gordon Lyons
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Implementing other recommendations will require further legislation that, I trust, will come in the next mandate, but I can confirm that 60 of the recommendations have already been separately addressed by either the Department or the commission. I hope that that answers his questions.”
“Yes, I do and am happy to share those. The issue has been raised in the Chamber and through Assembly questions. My position is that we want to make it simple and straightforward for people.”
“They also introduce greater flexibility in financial reporting, allowing requirements to be tailored more appropriately, reducing burdens on smaller organisations and ensuring that the system can adapt over time through secondary legislation.”
“If they want to constitute as a Northern Ireland-only charity, they are able to do that, if they believe that that will bring certain benefits.”
“That is similar to what we are trying to do with trustees. Even though you leave your position as a trustee or your position as someone who holds an office in a charity or who has employment in the office, the commissioner will still be able to make a determination that says, "Even though you have left, we are still making this order to t…”
“I do not believe that it was. That was maybe picked up wrong. We are happy to look at and explore that, but that is the information that I have on it. Again, we will have the Committee Stage of the legislation, so we can look into that then.”
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“It would mean that more workers would have access to a pension with an employer contribution and greater pension pots, supporting those with lower earnings and multiple jobs. Reducing, rather than removing, the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band would mean that contributions would start at the new lower limit. That would have the effect of increasing pension savings. The impact, however, on pension savings by lower earners and those in multiple jobs would be less than if the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band were removed altogether. <BR /> <BR />An equality impact assessment (EQIA) examined the proposals in the context of the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations, as required by section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
“<BR /> <BR />Turning to the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band, the Bill will provide the Department with the power to make regulations to reduce or repeal the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band. Removing the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band would mean that pension contributions would be made from the first pound earned, thereby increasing total pension saving and simplifying contribution calculations for employers and individuals. That change to how contributions are calculated would improve the incentives for those who are in multiple jobs to opt into their workplace pension scheme as they would benefit from an employer contribution for every pound that they earn in every job, up to the upper limit of the qualifying earnings band. That would proportionately affect the contributions of lower earners the most.”
“Since the introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012, the percentage of employees in Northern Ireland aged 22 to 29 who are members of a workplace pension scheme has increased; from 25% in 2012 to 72% in 2022. However, for employees aged 17 to 21, membership of a workplace pension scheme has only increased from 1% to 17% over the same time period. The Bill would provide the power to lower the age for automatic enrolment from 22 in order to encourage saving for retirement from an early age. That would help to continue to normalise pension saving among workers, help lower earners to build resilience for retirement and, of course, simplify automatic enrolment processes for employers. Workers will, as now, be able to opt out of automatic enrolment.”
“The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill will therefore provide the Department with the powers to lower the age at which qualifying workers are automatically enrolled into a workplace pension, with the policy intent to lower it to the age of 18, and reduce or repeal the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band so that contributions are calculated on more of a person's earnings. <BR /> <BR />Turning first to the proposal to reduce the lower age limit for automatic enrolment, it is clear that participation in workplace pensions is significantly lower among those employees under the lower age limit for automatic enrolment.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although pensions is a devolved matter, in general, pensions policy and legislation here operate in line with corresponding pension provision in Great Britain, in line with section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Many employers that offer private pension schemes that operate in Northern Ireland are UK-wide. Therefore, it is highly desirable that the same provisions are in place in Northern Ireland to ensure parity across both jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />The measures contained in the Bill arise from the recommendations made by the 2017 review.”
“<BR /> <BR />The key recommendations of the review were to lower the age for automatic enrolment from 22, in order to encourage saving for retirement from an early age, and to reduce or repeal the lower limit of the qualifying earnings bands so that the contributions were calculated on more of an individual's earnings. The recommendations were intended to support all those who are automatically enrolled, particularly those with low earnings and multiple jobs, to save more for retirement. The UK Government accepted the key recommendations of the review and the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023, which extends only to Great Britain, was enacted in September 2023. It provides the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with the power to lower the age threshold and to amend the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band.”
“A statutory review of automatic enrolment carried out in 2017 concluded that, whilst automatic enrolment was working, younger workers aged 18 to 21 missed out on the benefits of automatic enrolment because the lower age limit was 22. The review also found that, whilst workers who earned more than £10,000 a year in a job were automatically enrolled, because their contributions were calculated from £6,240, the bottom of the qualifying earnings band, they missed out on a potentially significant contribution on their earnings below that level, possibly more than once if they had more than one job.”
“The minimum contribution rate is 8% of earnings. Of that 8%, employers contribute a minimum of 3% and employees 5%, part of which includes tax relief. Workers can opt out of automatic enrolment. However, every three years, an employer must re-enrol those eligible employees who exercise their opt-out of an automatic enrolment with that employer. Again, employees can opt out at that stage. <BR /> <BR />Since the introduction of automatic enrolment in 2012, there has been a significant growth in membership of workplace pensions, and saving for retirement has become the norm. In 2013, the proportion of employees in Northern Ireland who belonged to a workplace pension scheme was 44%. In 2021, it had increased to 73%.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Automatic enrolment on workplace pensions was introduced in 2012 to enable more people to save for their retirement and to make saving the norm for most people in work. It requires employers to enrol eligible employees on a workplace pension scheme. Unless employees opt out, they will build up a private pension through their contributions and those of their employer. <BR /> <BR />Eligible employees are those who are not already in a workplace pension scheme, are between age 22 and state pension age and earn more than the minimum earnings threshold of £10,000 per annum. In 2024-25, contributions are required to be made on earnings between the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band, which is £6,240, and the upper limit of the qualifying earnings band, which is £50,270.”
“I am happy to answer those. However, I still believe that the extension of the legislation to Northern Ireland is beneficial. I hope that the Members who are here support it.”
“In the process of taking this through, my understanding has been that that would actually be the case; it would be dependent, and each would be done on a case-by-case basis. However, if I am wrong on that, I am happy to correct it for the Member. <BR /> <BR />I think that I have gone through most of the points that were raised. I realise that the Bill has gone through in quick fashion. I know that Members may have further questions. Obviously, we still have a number of stages to go through. My door is always open. I am happy to take any additional questions that Members might have. I hope to be in a position to address them. I am trying to deal with this disparity. Although there has been scrutiny of those clauses in England and Wales, and this is simply an extension of that, I understand that people may want to raise further points.”
“The Bill is about giving people an opportunity through the courts as well. <BR /> <BR />Mr Allister also raised the issue of dwellings. It would apply if a commercial business became a dwelling, as it is to protect residents. However, it is my understanding — I will confirm this with the Member — that it would not apply in the other direction. I assume that the point in time when that would happen would be when the change of use is granted. I hope that the Member will understand that I want to confirm the issue that he has raised in writing. <BR /> <BR />Strict liability is a matter for the courts to determine based on the facts of the individual case, but, if the courts determine that strict liability is merited, it would be applied. As the Member said, it is very rare, but my understanding is that that would be for the courts to decide.”
“I welcome the broadly supportive comments from Members right across the House. However, I want to address some of the issues that a number of Members raised. <BR /> <BR />First, Andy Allen commented on what it means to be finally determined. I hope that I outlined that in my speech. For clarity, it is the spirit and intent of the Bill that any case that is currently in process or has been granted the right to appeal will benefit from it at Royal Assent. I hope that that is useful to him. Mr Allister asked about the convention rights that are impacted. Article 6.1, the right to a fair trial, is what has been identified in that regard. Mr McCrossan raised the issue of materials. It is intended that the legislation will offer owners the opportunity for legal recourse if defective materials have rendered a premises defective.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope that Members will support the Bill's progress. I am happy to provide fuller responses on any issues that Members raise.”
“Give me a second. <BR /> <BR />It is often said that our homes are the biggest financial investment that most of us will make in our lifetime. This legislation gives homeowners here the same opportunity as their counterparts in England and Wales to protect that investment where, through no fault of their own, the dwelling has been rendered uninhabitable due to defects caused during its construction or by work carried out on the property. It provides more time to hold to account those responsible for building the house or carrying out work on it, in order to ensure that the work is of the highest quality and is done using the best materials for the job. <BR /> <BR />Maybe the Member could address his points in his contribution, and I will come back to him when I am summing up.”
“The Bill addresses residential buildings only, and, as responsibility for residential building safety now sits within my Department, it makes sense to transfer those provisions to DFC. <BR /> <BR />Clause 4 allows for the provisions of the Bill to commence the day after it receives Royal Assent.”
“Legal advice received from the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) and senior legislative counsel has confirmed that the wording of the clause allows appeals to be brought under this legislation. In addition, in the case of URS Corporation Limited v BDW Trading Limited, the Court of Appeal in England ruled that the amendments brought about by sections 134 and 135 of the Building Safety Act explicitly allowed for their retrospective application and that, in cases in which proceedings were still open, the new limitation periods could be used. <BR /> <BR />Clause 3 transfers the provisions of the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 from DAERA to DFC.”
“I will provide for the Member, before the end of the debate, the relevant rights. There are, obviously, a number that are applicable. I will get the precise wording for him. <BR /> <BR />Subsection (5) prevents the new limitation periods being used in relation to claims that have previously been settled by agreement or finally determined by a court, whether on the basis of limitation or otherwise. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that some people have expressed concern about how clause 2 might impact on cases that are being appealed. I can confirm that the intent of the clause is that it should apply where an appeal has been lodged with the courts or a where a case is still within the period in which an appeal may be lodged.”
“Subsection (4) requires the court to dismiss a case brought by virtue of the retrospective effect of the amendments on limitation if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so to avoid a breach of the defendant's convention rights. The essential point to note is that the clause does not guarantee the success of a case brought under the new limitation periods. The plaintiff still has to prove his case. <BR /> <BR />Subsection (5) prevents the new limitation periods —.”
“It also introduces a retrospective provision for actions taken under article 3 of the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 — actions relating to the provision of a dwelling, in other words — extending the limitation period from six years to 30 years. Subsection (2) requires that any action taken under article 3 of the 1975 Order should be treated by the courts as if the new limitation period has always been in effect.”
“The clause is a close replication of the equivalent provision in England and Wales, which was introduced by section 134 of the Building Safety Act 2022. Like that provision, it cannot be applied retrospectively to defects that arise before the commencement of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Clause 2 is broadly similar to the new provisions introduced in England and Wales by section 135 of the Building Safety Act 2022. It amends the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 to introduce new limitation periods for actions taken in respect of defective buildings. With the introduction of the provision, the limitation period for actions taken for defects arising after the Bill commences is extended from six years to 15 years.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will now focus on the content of the Bill. As I mentioned, the Bill consists of four clauses that introduce new provisions to two existing pieces of primary legislation, namely the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 and the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. It transfers the functions of the 1975 Order from DAERA to DFC and establishes that the Act will come into operation on the day after receiving Royal Assent. <BR /> <BR />Clause 1 introduces a new article 4A to the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 that extends the duties that exist in the Order to people carrying out work to a building that contains one or more dwellings. Previously, the Order applied only to new dwellings.”
“<BR /> <BR />While work on the new legislation has been proceeding, the outcome of the recent High Court case has cast a harsh light on the real disadvantages that that legislative disparity can bring to Northern Ireland homeowners. For that reason, I have sought to address the disparity as a matter of urgency by offering homeowners here the same recourse to legislative protection as those in other jurisdictions enjoy. Following my meeting with the AERA Minister and the Finance Minister, I undertook to legislate to address the disparity at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to Executive and Assembly approval. I am grateful for the support that Ministers Archibald and Muir offered, as it has helped work on the Bill to proceed at pace. I thank the Executive Committee for their agreement to bring the Bill to the Assembly.”
“The report recognised that the building safety regime in Northern Ireland was much more fractured than elsewhere in the UK, with responsibility for safety falling between six Departments, 11 local authorities and a number of other public bodies. In January this year, a residential building safety division was established in my Department to take forward the report's recommendations. Work has already commenced on developing policy and legislation that will introduce a legislative framework that places us on a par with other jurisdictions and puts citizens' safety at the heart of the residential building safety procedures. I anticipate that a substantive Bill will most likely be introduced in the next Assembly mandate.”
“That Act included provisions to amend the Defective Premises Act 1972 and the Limitation Act 1980 to increase the limitation period within which leaseholders can take action against developers when defects to their dwelling have rendered it uninhabitable. Following the publication of the Building Safety Act 2022, the Executive recognised that Northern Ireland citizens should be afforded the same level of safety as their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, and they commissioned the Department of Finance to establish an expert panel to examine the local position and report back. <BR /> <BR />The report, which found issues similar to those identified in England, was published in December 2023.”
“This is a short Bill of only four clauses. With the agreement of the Assembly, it will bring our citizens into parity with those in England and Wales so that there will be parity of opportunity to legal recourse should their home become uninhabitable due to a defect arising either from the construction of the dwelling or as a consequence of work carried out to it. <BR /> <BR />It may help if I provide some background to the reason why that disparity has arisen. In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the UK Government carried out a root-and-branch review of the residential building safety regime and procedures in England. That eventually led to the introduction in England of the Building Safety Act 2022.”
“We have had some experience of the scheme, which has been in place in England and Wales for two years. We do not have evidence of unintended consequences yet. <BR /> <BR />I understand the concerns that people expressed about the lack of Committee scrutiny at this stage. I have highlighted and will further highlight the need for us to take action on this. Therefore, I commend the motion to the House.”
“I am grateful to the Members who contributed to the debate and for the high level of consensus around the Chamber. It is also my view that accelerated passage should not be entered into lightly. It is, however, a tool that is available to the House when it is necessary. That certainly is the case in this instance. <BR /> <BR />I will respond to some of Mr Allen's points about my interactions with stakeholders. Some preliminary engagement with the industry took place, although it was at a high level. I point out, however, that we are lifting legislation that currently exists in England and Wales, where there was scrutiny of the legislation. If we were asked to agree to a legislative consent motion, the role of the Assembly would be something similar to what we are doing now. I do not bypass Committee engagement lightly.”
“<BR /> <BR />I did not come to the decision to request accelerated passage lightly. I recognise and fully respect the important role that Committees play in the legislative process by ensuring that every Bill gets the proper degree of scrutiny. I would not have suggested the use of the accelerated passage process had I not considered that it was important to address, as a matter of urgency, the disadvantage that homeowners in Northern Ireland face under the existing legislation, should defects in their dwellings render them uninhabitable. Therefore, I commend the motion to the Assembly and ask that it agrees to process the Defective Premises Bill under the accelerated passage procedure.”
“However, that is a substantial piece of work, and it is unlikely that any legislation that arises out of it will be introduced to the Assembly during the current mandate. Given the impact that that disparity is having, as evidenced by the recent High Court case, and the possibility of further cases over the next few years, I feel that there is an urgent need to rectify the matter that justifies the use of the accelerated passage procedure. Should Members not agree to accelerated passage, the stark reality is that homeowners in Northern Ireland will remain disadvantaged should their homes be rendered uninhabitable due to defects arising from construction or from building work that has been carried out to their property. As we have already seen, that can come with a considerable financial and emotional cost to our citizens.”
“Rather, the case shone a light on the burden, both emotional and financial, that is faced by residents who, through no fault of their own, may be left with a home that has been rendered valueless while they still have to pay mortgages and other costs associated with it. Those could be starter homes owned by people taking their first steps on the property ladder or homes that people have bought when entering retirement. All that arises from Northern Ireland not keeping pace with the changes introduced in England and Wales in 2022 by the new Building Safety Act. <BR /> <BR />Since taking on responsibility for residential building safety in January this year, my officials have been working on developing new policy and legislation that will ensure that all citizens are afforded similar protections to those in place in other jurisdictions.”
“I thank Executive colleagues for the collegial approach that they have taken to allow the Bill to progress to the Assembly and for their agreement to the motion. <BR /> <BR />When I met Ministers Archibald and Muir just over 10 weeks ago, we all recognised the urgent need to address the disparity that exists between Northern Ireland and England and Wales on the issue. For that reason, I undertook to introduce at the earliest possible opportunity legislation that would place Northern Ireland's homeowners on an equal footing with their counterparts in those other jurisdictions. While that meeting in March was precipitated by the High Court's decision to dismiss the case brought by the residents of Victoria Square against its developers, that case is not the reason why I seek accelerated passage.”
“I will begin by putting on record my sincere condolences and sympathies to the Chairperson of the Committee and his family following the tragic passing of his nephew. On behalf of my party and the Department, I assure him and his family of our prayers at this time of unimaginable loss. <BR /> <BR />I seek the Assembly's approval to take forward the Defective Premises Bill using the accelerated passage procedure. I confirm that Executive approval was sought and granted for the use of the procedure. The Bill amends the Defective Premises (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 and the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 to extend the limitation period for which actions may be taken when defects occur in dwellings or in buildings that contain dwellings.”
“The process is ongoing, but today is an important step on the journey, and I am grateful to the House for its support.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Committee for Communities for its support for the passing of the regulations. I also thank the Chair and the Member for North Antrim Ms Mulholland for their comments. It is fair to say that pensions are not always the most exhilarating topic of conversation, and that is because, so often, people do not really understand how they work and what their pension will mean for them. Ms Mulholland was right to highlight the fact that many people do not stay in a job for life any more. People will have various different pension pots, as is the case for many in the Chamber today. Pensions dashboards will be a really useful tool that will help people plan and prepare for their retirement and help them understand what retirement will mean for them.”
“That will support the Money and Pensions Service and the regulator in their pensions dashboard programme and compliance roles respectively and support the secure delivery of the ecosystem and pensions dashboard services. The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK general data protection duties continue to apply to the sharing of information about an individual. <BR /> <BR />The aim of the pension dashboard is to make it easier for people to access their pension information, including their state pension, which will help to improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and their estimated retirement income.”
“The individual will then see information about the value of their pension both as an accrued value and as an illustration of a projected retirement income. State pension information will also be displayed, giving individuals a full picture of their pensions. Contextual information and signpost data will sit alongside those values to help users to understand the information that is displayed. <BR /> <BR />The regulations also set out a robust and effective enforcement regime that allows the Pensions Regulator to take appropriate enforcement action in the case of a failure to adhere to any of the proposed requirements and provides a significant deterrent to non-compliance. The regulations enable the Money and Pensions Service to share information with the Pensions Regulator in connection with its function under the regulations.”
“For example, they outline how schemes must cooperate with and connect to the Money and Pensions Service architecture to fulfil their duties in relation to matching an individual with their data. The regulations also set out what schemes must do to provide an individual with their pension information when requested. <BR /> <BR />Dashboards will present individuals with relatively high-level pension information. It will not be possible, for example, to transact, transfer or consolidate through the digital architecture. On receiving an individual's request to find their pension information from the dashboard's digital architecture, schemes must provide administrative data to the individual. That includes basic information about the pension, including how an individual can contact their scheme.”
“The regulations provide that qualifying pensions dashboard services are to be made available to the general public from the dashboard's available point. That will be the date specified in a notice issued in accordance with the regulations. <BR /> <BR />The regulations also set out the various requirements that pensions dashboard services and the providers of those services will need to meet and continue to meet to be qualifying pensions dashboard services. For example, the requirements will include adherence to standards set by the Money and Pensions Service. Failure to comply with certain standards will result in a qualifying pensions dashboard service being disconnected from the dashboards ecosystem. The regulations set out the requirements that are imposed on trustees or managers of relevant occupational pensions systems.”
“They will help to ensure that pensions dashboard services can be introduced safely and within a reasonable time frame. <BR /> <BR />The delivery of pensions dashboards needs to be both timely and operationally manageable. Pensions dashboard guidance on the staged timetable for relevant occupational pension schemes to connect to the pensions dashboards ecosystem by 31 October 2026 is available on my Department's website. <BR /> <BR />By prioritising the largest pension schemes for connection to the Money and Pensions Service architecture before smaller schemes, the aim is for a comprehensive dashboard service to be available to the public at the earliest opportunity, whilst ensuring that the requirements are achievable for the pensions industry.”
“Providers must also have permission from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate in that capacity. The regulations require relevant occupational pension schemes to connect to the dashboards ecosystem and be ready to respond to data requests by the connection deadline of 31 October 2026 and in the correct data format. They also set out the requirements for organisations that wish to provide a pensions dashboard service.”
“With the passage of time, those people can lose track of one or more of their pensions. <BR /> <BR />The regulations introduce requirements that will bring the pensions dashboard services into operation. The aim is to make it easier for people to access their pensions information, which will help to improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and estimated retirement income. Organisations that wish to provide a pensions dashboard service will have their pensions dashboard service exist alongside the pensions dashboard service that is to be provided by the Money and Pensions Service. <BR /> <BR />The regulations introduce provisions that providers of dashboard services are required to abide by in order to be considered a qualifying pensions dashboard service.”
“This rule is the replacement for the original regulations that came into operation on 12 December 2022. As the regulations require the approval of the Assembly, they have been revoked and replaced on a couple of occasions, otherwise they would have expired at the end of the six-month period from the date that they came into operation. <BR /> <BR />The rule provides the framework within which pensions dashboards will operate. Pensions dashboard services are an electronic communications service that will allow individuals to see their pensions information, including the state pension, in one place online. One of the impacts of changing work patterns and automatic enrolment is that there has been an increase in the number of people with multiple pension pots.”
“I have huge support for the Supporting People programme. It does an incredible job and helps people who would otherwise need much more serious and much more expensive intervention. Budget conversations are ongoing. The Member will be aware of the tight budgetary environment in which I am operating. I want to be able to help the Supporting People programme, because it makes a real difference in people's lives and is far more cost-effective than the alternative in many cases.”
“Yes, absolutely. The need is so big at the moment because we have seen incredible growth in the women's game, which has necessitated additional facilities, changing rooms and all the rest of it. It is fantastic to see. It is great see more people, especially young girls, getting involved in football. I welcome that. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right about rugby: it has probably seen even greater growth. It is important that we have those facilities so that we are not in any way hampering or hindering that growth. That is why I am determined to deliver for people on the issue.”
“Therefore, I want to make sure that the funding that is available helps not only our national training centre and performance clubs but the grassroots clubs that do so much good. I will make an initial announcement on the process for the £36·2 million. I hope that we will be in a position soon to extend that further so that we can get all our facilities across Northern Ireland up to scratch.”
“The Member will not expect me to comment on individual clubs in her constituency. Actually, she probably does expect me to comment on clubs in her constituency, but I hope that she will understand why I will not do that. Yes, it will help clubs such as the one in Banbridge that she mentioned, because the subregional stadia programme will help not just performance clubs but grassroots clubs. That is really important. <BR /> <BR />I do not want us to be in a position where we turn young people away from playing football because the facilities are not there for them. I have seen that in my constituency, where parents have had to take young people elsewhere. Some parents are not able to do that, and young people are missing out. I do not want that to be the case.”
“We also need to make sure that the Housing Executive is in a position to do the necessary renovations or refurbishment of empty homes so that they can be brought up to standard and rented out. Steps can be taken to take the pressure off the housing situation in Northern Ireland.”
“The Member is, I am sure, aware in his constituency, as we all are in our constituencies, of the extreme housing pressures that many people face. I am determined to address that. Empty properties are an important aspect of the issue. Given that we have constraints on the planning system and restraints on our waste water infrastructure, we should make use of the properties that we have, as well as building more. There is no point in those properties being left vacant. We can do that in a number of ways. It will be part of our draft housing supply strategy. We need to look at innovative ways, as they have done in other parts of the United Kingdom, to encourage those who own houses that are not being used to make them available for let or for sale. That may require some input from government.”
“It is difficult for us to quantify exactly the number of empty homes in Northern Ireland. Land and Property Services (LPS), however, has told us that there are 20,958 vacant domestic dwellings on its databases. That does not necessarily cover all empty properties. Some owners will not declare their properties as empty, because there is not the same rating benefit from doing so, and there are other reasons that it may happen. The figure from LPS gives us an indication of just how many empty homes we have here.”