Limavady District Housing Plan 2011/12 - Northern Ireland Housing ...

2.4 Social housing
LIMAVADY
The total number of housing applicants within Limavady district has decreased by
15% since 2007. This trend is significantly different from that for Northern Ireland.
The number of applicants in housing stress at December 2010 was 176. There were
127 allocations in the 12 months to December 2010.
Single person households continue to dominate the waiting list, accounting for 54%
of all applicants in housing stress. Small families are the next largest household
group seeking social housing.
The housing need projection for Limavady Borough to 2015 is 77 units. Projections
are calculated using waiting list trends, supply trends and other demographic and
local information. The Social Housing Development Programme is formulated
using our housing needs assessments and strategic guidelines to help address
social housing need. It is likely that the budget for social housing will be reduced in
the coming years and this will inevitably affect the delivery of schemes locally.
Housing need has been identified within the district and appropriate schemes
placed on the Social Housing Development Programme. Social housing need
exists mainly in Limavady and Dungiven towns and across some of the smaller
settlements such as Ballykelly and Greysteel. There is also a small demand in
Feeny, Magilligan and Aghanloo. Our housing need assessments are reviewed
annually.
Waiting list trends throughout the district will continue to be monitored closely.
Current Housing Executive stock within the District is 1,467 dwellings, the majority of
which are houses and bungalows. Since the introduction of the House Sales
Scheme around 63% of our properties have been purchased. The remaining stock
is managed to ensure that vacancies are kept to a minimum. At the end of
December 2010 only seven properties were vacant.
Homeless applicants are included in the overall waiting list figures but it is possible
to analyse homelessness separately. The number of people presenting as
homeless and being awarded Full Duty Status has averaged at 147 since
2006/2007. The reasons for applicants presenting as homeless in the district are
varied, but the main reasons include prison release, relationship or family disputes,
and unsuitable/no accommodation in Northern Ireland.
Just over 71% of all who presented as homeless in 2010/11 were single households,
and 57% of all applicants who received Full Duty Status. Small family households
accounted for 17.8% of those presenting and 24.6% of those receiving Full Duty
Status. Limavady District Office made a total of 38 placements into temporary
accommodation in 2010/11, which is an increase of six cases from the previous
year.
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