Committee for Communities - Primary Legislation

Housing (Amendment) Bill

 Committee stage - Housing (Amendment) Bill

The Housing (Amendment) Bill was introduced by Colm Gildernew MLA on 30 June 2026.

The Bill seeks to amend Article 3(6) of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 by extending the period during which a person is considered to be threatened with homelessness from 28 days to 60 days, allowing earlier intervention and support for households at risk of becoming homeless.

Further information on the Bill can be found by following the links below:

• Read the Bill as introduced (PDF, 8 pages, 192KB)
• Read the Bill's Explanatory and Financial Memorandum (PDF, 12 pages, 380KB)

The Bill is currently awaiting Second Stage consideration by the Assembly. Should the Bill pass Second Stage, it will be referred to the Committee for Communities for scrutiny during Committee Stage.

At its meeting on 2 July 2026, the Committee for Communities agreed to launch its call for evidence. 

Call for Evidence

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 content.

How to submit your views

The Committee has now launched its call for views, inviting you to have your say on the Bill's content. The call for views takes the form of an online survey, hosted on the NI Assembly’s 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 Housing (Amendment) Bill survey below:

•  Launch the survey on the Housing (Amendment) Bill [EXTERNAL LINK]

The closing date for completing the survey is 3 September 2026.

If you have any questions or would like to request to submit your views via an alternative format 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 Bill, please contact the Committee Clerk:

Room 410, Parliament Buildings,

Ballymiscaw, Stormont,

Belfast, BT4 3XX

Tel: (028) 905 21895

Email: Committee.Communities@niassembly.gov.uk