15 January 2026
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has said that new rent arrears figures from the Department for Communities underline the growing strain on Northern Ireland’s social housing system.
Figures show that by the end of September 2025, a total of 26,844 Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenancies were in rent arrears.
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said:
“These figures highlight the extent of the pressure now being felt across the social housing system. Rent arrears at this level point to the cumulative impact of rising living costs and ongoing financial pressures on households, and to the challenges facing the system as a whole.
“In many cases, the Housing Executive and housing associations are working constructively with tenants who are experiencing difficulty, but the scale of these figures shows that the pressure is widespread.
“It is important that social housing providers are properly supported to manage arrears effectively and to maintain the stability of the system. The SDLP will continue to press Ministers to ensure that social housing is adequately resourced and treated as an essential public service.”