21 October 2025
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has said the Minister must legislate to address issues with houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
He was speaking after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons told MLAs he would be writing to councils to remind them of their obligations.
Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said:
“Instead of legislating to address the many issues around HMOs, what we heard today was the Minister punching down on vulnerable people, playing to the gallery in his own party and passing the buck to councils.
“I deal with HMO-related cases every week in my own constituency. Rather than writing to councils to tell them to use powers that are clearly inadequate, the Minister should be bringing forward meaningful changes to licensing, enforcement and working with councils to prevent the over-concentration of HMOs in single areas.
“HMOs can provide necessary accommodation, but too often we are seeing substandard and overcrowded housing slipping through gaps in current legislation. This compounds the concentration of HMOs in specific areas that are already at saturation point. Everyone has the right to be able to access a decent standard of housing and this is another missed opportunity from the Minister today.”