Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - Primary Legislation

Dilapidation Bill

The Dilapidation Bill was formally introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on Tuesday 23 June 2025. The Bill completed its Second Stage on Tuesday 1 July 2025 and was referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny (the Committee Stage of the Bill).

The purpose of the Bill is to confer functions on district councils in connection with the dilapidation of buildings and other land.

Further information on the Bill can be found below:

• Read the Bill as Introduced
• Read the Bill's Explanatory and Financial Memorandum

An Explanatory and Financial Memorandum (EFM) is a document that accompanies a bill. It provides a detailed explanation of the bill's purpose, background, policy objectives, and its potential financial, human rights, and other impacts.

Call for Evidence

As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly. This is known as the 'Committee Stage' of the Bill. As it was the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs who introduced the Bill, it is the responsibility of the Assembly's Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to take forward the Committee Stage.

As part of the Committee Stage, the Committee is seeking views from stakeholders on the objectives, proposals and potential consequences of the Bill and would welcome your views and comments on its contents.

How to submit your views

The Committee has now launched its consultation, inviting you to have your say on the Bill's content. The consultation takes the form of an online survey, hosted on our Citizen Space website.

Your views will help to inform the Committee's consideration of the Bill and any recommendations it may suggest as it moves to the next stage of the legislative process.

Please find a link to the Dilapidation Bill survey below:

• Launch the survey on the Dilapidation Bill and tell us your views

The closing date for completing the survey is Friday 10 October 2025.

If you have any questions or would like to request a different format for submitting your views, please get in touch using the contact details below.

Useful Information

• View the current progress of the Bill and all related information
• Guide to submitting evidence to Assembly Committees in written or other formats
• Understanding a Bill: a guide for stakeholders
• Assembly Committees Privacy Notice

Contact Us

If you have any queries or require any further information about the call for evidence or the Committee Stage of the Dilapidation Bill, please contact the Committee Clerk:

Address: Room 285, Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX

Email: Committee.AgriEnvRural@niassembly.gov.uk

Telephone: (028) 90 521369