Mark Durkan calls for third-generation rent controls which restrict the amount and frequency of rent rises for existing tenants.
Derry MLAs back motion calling for ‘robust rent controls’ and moratorium on sale of social housing stock
By Kevin Mullan
Published 22nd Jan 2026, Derry Journal.
Local MLAs addressed the housing crisis locally at the Stormont Assembly where SDLP MLA Mark H. Durkan called for a moratorium on the right to buy in order to address a lack of social homes available to rent.
Mr. Durkan further proposed ‘robust third-generation rent controls’ to address spiralling rents in the private market during the party’s first Opposition Day of 2026.
“Our rental market is facing severe strain. On one hand we are seeing huge social housing waiting lists as a result of a lack of properties, and on the other those in the private rental market are facing relentless price increases, at a time when families are already under huge financial pressure.
The expenditure of millions of pounds on emergency temporary accommodation set against the continued depletion of social housing stock in Derry has been branded ‘irreconcilable and fiscally irresponsible’.
“We cannot continue down a path where we have too few homes and rents that are increasingly unaffordable. The Executive has failed to meet even its own modest housing targets and has done little to regulate a private rental market that offers far less security than elsewhere, including in the South,” he said.
Mr. Durkan tabled a motion calling for third-generation rent controls which restrict the amount and frequency of rent rises for existing tenants.
“They are not crude rent freezes. I understand the Minister, the sector and others' concerns about that approach, but they are targeted, evidence-based measures that allow reasonable increases while preventing sudden destabilising hikes,” he said.
The SDLP MLA pointed to the depletion of social housing stock following the introduction of the North’s House Sales Scheme that came in on a voluntary basis 47 years ago.
“Since the house sales scheme began in 1979, over 122,000 Housing Executive homes have been sold. That is more than the number currently owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; it has about 83,000 homes remaining. Replacement has never come close. At current build rates, it would take nearly 80 years just to replace what has already been lost, and that does not take into account increasing demand or anything like that,” he said.
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson proposed an amendment to Mr. Durkan’s proposal that called for ‘robust rent controls’ in place of ‘third-generation’ rent controls.
This would provide scope for ‘first-generation’ rent regulation where rent freezes could be imposed for new tenancies.
Ms. Ferguson echoed Mr. Durkan’s comments concerning the depletion of social housing.
“In 1974, there were approximately 455,500 dwellings across all housing sectors in the region; now, we have 841,872. While around 34 per cent of housing back then was social rented accommodation and almost all of that was owned or managed by the Housing Executive, Thatcher's [Margaret, former British Prime Minister] unmitigated disaster of a policy means that, despite that growth, we have been left with approximately 80,000 Housing Executive homes.
“To put that in context, we lost 212 homes in 2024 and 2025 alone,” she said.
Mrs. Ferguson criticised continued expenditure on emergency hotels and pop B&Bs while the social housing stock is depleting.
"The Housing Executive's annual spend on temporary accommodation increased by 16 per cent last year to nearly £40 million. That included a spend of almost £17 million on non-standard accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs, with Derry accounting for over half of that figure.
"Those two realities existing in tandem is not only totally illogical but irreconcilable and fiscally irresponsible,” she stated.
The Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons said he fully recognised the depth of concern expressed by members about rising rents.
"It is something that I experience, week after week, in my constituency, through those who come to me,” he said.
The housing minister said he had taken action on rent increases.
"The private rented sector is experiencing strong and sustained rental growth. That has primarily been driven by a shortage of available properties. That is the issue that we face: supply.
"That does not mean that we have not taken action to address issues around affordability. In April last year, I introduced legislation to restrict rent increases to once in any 12-month period, with a requirement for three months' written notice. That provides important protections for tenants by offering certainty and preventing multiple or unexpected rent increases in a short time frame,” said Mr. Lyons.
But the minister raised concerns about the proposals for rent controls, claiming it could lead to landlords exiting the private rental market.
"A report commissioned by my Department on rent freezes, known as first-generation rent controls, clearly outlined the potential negative impacts of these types of controls on the sector.
"In particular, the report highlighted the risk that a large proportion of landlords might exit the private rented market and that that would result in a drop in the supply of private rented properties in an already stretched market,” he said.
Mr. Durkan pointed out that his motion had referred to third-generation rent controls which would put freezes on rent increases for tenants who are already ‘in-tenancy’.
Mr. Lyons also defended the house sales scheme.
"The housing sales scheme has undoubtedly been successful in providing people in Northern Ireland who might not otherwise have been able to buy with an affordable route into homeownership.
"While it has changed the tenure of those homes, the sales scheme has offered and still offers a valuable opportunity for those living in the social sector to acquire and remain in their home,” he said.
The motion calling on ‘the Minister for Communities to prioritise the delivery of the social housing development plan and to introduce a moratorium on the house sales scheme in order to stabilise social housing stock levels’ and further calling on ‘the Minister to explore options for the introduction of robust rent controls and a public body to regulate the rental sector and deliver a fair rental system’ was adopted with the support of Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance.