Attitudes to landlord services

NIHE Community Involvement Strategy 2018-2023: Evaluation Report (June 2024)

In addition to its core landlord functions, the Housing Executive invests heavily to create vibrant and sustainable communities in the areas it serves.  Since the mid-1980s the organisation has facilitated activities to encourage the active and participative involvement of residents and community groups in the delivery of housing services.  

This work included the Inspiring Communities, Shaping Our Services Community Involvement Strategy for the period 2018-2023.  As the strategy drew to a close, S3 Solutions were commissioned to undertake an evaluation, which included: development of an aggregated and cumulative set of deliverables; semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key staff and stakeholders; and workshops with key community forums. 

The analysis found that the vast majority of actions associated with the 2018-2023 strategy had been fully achieved, and provided insights that informed the development of the Community Involvement and Cohesion Strategy 2024-2029.

Understanding Tenancy Terminations and Issues for Sustainment

In 2021, Perceptive Insight Market Research was commissioned to carry out research, with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the reasons for breakdown of Housing Executive tenancies.  

The purpose of the study was to provide data that would assist the Housing Executive in meeting the aims of its Customer Support and Tenancy Sustainment Strategy, and there was a particular focus on those tenancies terminated within their first year, as well as on the experiences of tenants who held at least two tenancies within the four years prior to the most recent termination.

The research incorporated quantitative and qualitative elements, including a literature review; a telephone survey of 650 former Housing Executive tenants who had terminated their tenancy, as well as a further 50 depth interviews; and a focus group discussion with 10 Housing Executive staff members.

The analysis indicated that external social influences were among the main reasons why tenants experienced difficulties sustaining their tenancies long term, and that most continued their housing journeys in the social housing sector.

Understanding Tenant Participation and Involvement

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive commissioned Perceptive Insight to undertake research to explore Housing Executive tenant engagement/participation. 

The study consisted of three elements; a telephone survey of 650 tenants, secondary analysis of data collected from a survey of 211 members of the Housing Community Network (HCN), and two focus group discussions with 18 members of the HCN.  Barriers to engagement as well as incentives to encourage future participation were identified. 

These findings have been incorporated into the development of our new Community Involvement Strategy, which outlines our future plans to support and encourage greater levels of tenant participation and overcome barriers to engagement.

The 2022 CTOS Introduction, Aims and Methodology, Summary of Key Findings, and Appendix Tables documents can be downloaded below.

You can also download the CTOS Summary and Main Reports for 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 below.

Older CTOS reports can be downloaded from the ‘archive’ list below.