Mandatory licensing of rented accommodation is needed to safeguard the lives of students living in the private rented sector, the Northern Ireland student movement, NUS-USI, has said.
In its submission to the voluntary licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation, NUS-USI calls on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme, to improve safety standards in flats and shared houses. Such a scheme already exists in England.
"They seem to be taking these issues more seriously in Britain," says NUS-USI student manager, Peter O'Neill. "Here the Housing Executive has a hands-off policy." O'Neill fears that the voluntary scheme relies too much on the good will of landlords and says the Housing Executive is attempting to "cajole" landlords into making improvements instead of seriously addressing the issue of housing standards.
"This prevarication in proposing an effective licensing scheme will simply allow unscrupulous landlords to continue avoiding their responsibilities and delay the promotion of better standards for houses in multiple occupation."
The Housing Executive says it is introducing the voluntary scheme "in anticipation of" a mandatory scheme and says there is "no question" of it prevaricating on the matter. However, according to the Housing Executive, a mandatory scheme will require legislation, which "will probably take more than a year".
