Consultations

A consultation is a procedure which enables the public and relevant organisations to help to develop housing strategies and solve problems.

The idea is to involve everyone who is affected by the issue and who wants to help find the best solution. Sometimes a consultation will not address a specific problem, but will simply want feedback and opinions on a topic.

Current consultations

Consultation on our Draft Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2024/25 and 2022/23 One Year Business Plan 

Closing date: Wednesday 14 December 2022.

On Wednesday 24 March 2022 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the Draft Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2024/25.

We will now undertake a 12 week external consultation exercise, to seek feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document.

Previous consultations

Consultation on our 'Ending Homelessness Together' Draft Homelessness Strategy 2022-27

Closing date: Tuesday 25th January 2022

On Wednesday 27th October 2021 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft Homelessness Strategy 2022-27. 

We will now undertake a 12 week external consultation exercise, to seek feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document.

For more details on 'Ending Homelessness Together' Draft Homelessness Strategy 2022-27 please contact Richard Tanswell at:
email: richard.tanswell@nihe.gov.uk or
tel.: 028 9598 2327

A number of online public consultation events will be publicised on the Housing Executive’s social media channels over the course of the public consultation period.

For further details please contact:

email: homelessness.strategy@nihe.gov.uk

Consultation Events

If you would like to attend any of the online consultation events, scheduled for the dates listed below, please complete the attached booking form and return to:

email: homelessness.strategy@nihe.gov.uk

• Fri 19th November 2021 at 1:30pm
• Thu 25th November 2021 at 10:00am
• Mon 29th November 2021 at 10:00am
• Mon 13th December 2021 at 2:00pm 
• Mon 12th January 2022 at 10:00am 

Consultation on our 'Homeless to Home’ Draft Strategic Action Plan for Temporary Accommodation 

Closing date: Tuesday 25th January 2022

On Wednesday 27th October 2021 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft Strategic Action Plan for Temporary Accommodation.

We will now undertake a 12 week external consultation exercise, to seek feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document

For more details on ‘Homeless to Home' Draft Strategic Action Plan for Temporary Accommodation please contact Anthony Lavery at:
email: anthony.lavery@nihe.gov.uk or
Tel.: 028 9598 4075

A number of online public consultation events will be publicised on the Housing Executive’s social media channels over the course of the public consultation period.

For further details please contact

email: homelessness.strategy@nihe.gov.uk 

Consultation Events

If you would like to attend any of the online consultation events, scheduled for the dates listed below, please complete the attached booking form and return to:

email: homelessness.strategy@nihe.gov.uk

• Fri 26th November 2021 at 2:00pm 
• Wed 1st December 2021 at 10:00am 
• Wed 15th December 2021 at 2:00pm
• Mon 12th January 2022 at 10:00am

Consultation on our 'Reaching Rural' Draft Rural Strategy 2021-2025

Closing date: Thursday 30th September

We are consulting on 'Reaching Rural' our draft 2021-25 Rural Strategy & Action Plan. It sets out our plans to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive growth of our rural communities dispersed across Northern Ireland over the next four years.

For more details on the 'Reaching Rural' Draft Rural Strategy 2021-2025 contact Sinead Collins at:
email: sinead.collins@nihe.gov.uk or
Tel.: 03448 920 900

When completed, please send the consultation response form to:

• rural.housing@nihe.gov.uk

Or alternatively, return by post to:

The Rural & Regeneration Unit
Housing Executive
The Housing Centre
2 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8PB

Consultation on our draft Irish Travellers Accommodation Strategy 2020-25

New closing date - 18th November 2020.

On Wednesday 27th June 2020 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft Irish Travellers Accommodation Strategy 2020-25 for consultation. The 12 week external consultation exercise to allow feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document - which can be downloaded below has completed.

However, as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic and in recognition of recent feedback, we have taken the decision to extend the public consultation period for the NIHE draft Irish Traveller Accommodation Strategy 2020-25 by 8 weeks.  We hope this gives consultees sufficient opportunity to take part in the consultation.

We would also like to advise consultees that responses which do not use the feedback form will be accepted and considered as your official response.

For further details on the draft Irish Travellers Accommodation Strategy 2020-25 please contact David Glasgow (david.glasgow@nihe.gov.uk)

If you would like to provide a response to the strategy please email your completed online consultation response to david.glasgow@nihe.gov.uk or submit your response in writing to:

David Glasgow, Traveller Strategy Officer
NI Housing Executive
Land & Housing Analytics, 2nd Floor 
2 Adelaide Street, Belfast 
BT2 8PB

Consultation closes at 5pm on 18th November 2020..

Additional supporting documents - the consultee letter, consultation response form and the consultation confidentiality requirements laid down by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - are available for download below.

Consultation on our draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26

The consultation period on our draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26 has now been extended by two weeks to Friday 9^th October 2020.

On Wednesday 26th February 2020 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26 for consultation.

We will now undertake a 12 week external consultation exercise to allow feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document - which can be downloaded from the link below.

For further details on the draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26 please contact John Goudy (john.goudy@nihe.gov.uk or 028 959 82498).

If you would like to provide a response to the strategy please email this to business.performance@nihe.gov.uk 

Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 9th October 2020.

Additional supporting documents - the Consultee Letter and the consultation confidentiality requirements laid down by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - are available for download below.

Consultation on our draft Customer Support and Tenancy Sustainment Strategy

Closing date: Friday 21st February 2020

On Wednesday 30th October the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft ‘ Customer Support and Tenancy Sustainment Strategy’. We will now undertake a 6 week external consultation exercise to allow feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document - which can be downloaded from the link below.

For further details on the Customer Support and Tenancy Sustainment Strategy Consultation, or to provide response, please email HousingInfo@nihe.gov.uk or call Rosanna McSorley on 028 9598 3016. Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 21st February. 

Draft Chronic Homelessness Action Plan Consultation

Closing date: Friday 9th August 2019

On Wednesday 27th February 2019 the Board of the Housing Executive approved the draft Chronic Homelessness Action Plan. We will now undertake a 12 week external consultation exercise, to seek feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document.

For further details on the Chronic Homelessness Action Plan Consultation, which closes at 5pm on Friday 9th August, and how you can respond, click the more information button below.

If you have any queries on any aspect of the consultation please do not hesitate to contact Helen Hicks on 02895 983 170 or Richard Tanswell on 02895 982 327.

We advise of any new consultations through our Twitter account or Facebook page so you may want to follow them.

Codes of practice on government consultation

The code of practice applies to all UK public consultations by government departments and agencies, including consultations on EU directives.

Though the code does not have legal force, and cannot prevail over statutory or other mandatory external requirements (e.g. under European Community Law), it should otherwise generally be regarded as binding unless Ministers conclude that exceptional circumstances require a departure.

The code contains six criteria. They should be reproduced in all consultation documents. There should be an explanation of any departure from the criteria and confirmation that they have otherwise been followed.

We adhere to the Code of Practice in all our consultations.

The procedure

When consultation is needed a consultation document is created by the appropriate department. This outlines the topics for discussion and invites views from individuals and groups. Some consultations are aimed at councils or other government bodies. Non-governmental organisations such as charities or community groups may also be asked to take part. The public are always free to contribute to consultations.

Consultations usually last around 3 months, though in some cases they can be open for as little as 6-8 weeks. Consultation periods are generally longer where councils are involved, in order to allow time for the consultation to be added to the relevant agenda.

Once the consultation has been completed, the information is used to create a policy document.

If we feel that a consultation is particularly important to householders we will write to you about it, for example if it deals with your neighbourhood. Some consultations are aimed more at organisations, dealing with topics like homelessness or rural housing. However, we welcome all input.