Commentary on Sections
Section 1: Sharing of information relating to empty properties
Section 1 provides for circumstances in which the Department of Finance & Personnel must disclose to the Department for Social Development or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive certain information about empty properties.
Section 1 also provides for circumstances in which the Department for Social Development and the Housing Executive must disclose certain rating-related information to the Department of Finance & Personnel.
Section 2: Disclosure of information relating to anti-social behaviour
Section 2 provides that a person may disclose certain information about anti-social behaviour to the Housing Executive or a registered housing association where such information is required for certain housing management purposes. Those purposes include applying for injunctions prohibiting anti-social behaviour, applying for possession orders on Ground 2 in Schedule 3 to the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (convictions and other anti-social conduct), withholding consent to the mutual exchange of secure tenancies, instigating criminal proceedings, deciding whether a secure tenant is entitled to exercise the right to buy their home, and determining that a person is not eligible for accommodation on the basis of their unacceptable behaviour.
Section 3: Registration as statutory charge of certain loans
Section 3 provides that so long as any part of the principal of, or any interest on, a loan made by the Housing Executive under Article 9 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (for certain purposes including making repairs or improvements to a house) remains outstanding, the loan is to be a charge on the house or building(s) in question, and that such charges shall be registered in the Statutory Charges Register.
Section 4: Commencement
Section 4 provides that the Act will come into operation at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the date on which it receives Royal Assent.
Section 5: Short title
Section 5 provides that the Act may be cited as the Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.
