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For professionals

As the leading agency providing advice and information on housing in Northern Ireland, Housing Rights helps other professionals working in housing.

Advice and information for professionals
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Homelessness advice: Free to all users

Our online homelessness advice for professionals is free to use. This is comprehensive information to help people working in housing. Our full range of professional information will be available to members of Housing Rights from June 2023. 

Homelessness advice: For professionals

Advice and information

Comprehensive information and advice on housing law in practice in Northern Ireland. Available for Housing Rights members from June 2023, sign in to access this content. 

Homelessness

Comprehensive information on the homeless application process and support for people facing homelessness in Northern Ireland.

Homeownership

Advice on all stages of homeownership, from buying a home to tackling mortgage debt and dealing with repossession.

Housing options

Information for professionals on different types of housing options for people with specific needs in Northern Ireland.

Renting privately

Advice on the private rented sector in Northern Ireland, from starting a tenancy to dealing with eviction and deposit disputes.

Help paying rent

Information for professionals on social security benefits, including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, to help with rent and rates in Northern Ireland. 

Housing conditions and repairs

Advice on fitness and safety standards in housing in Northern Ireland, from tackling repairs to the role of local councils in enforcing legislation.

Social housing

Advice for professionals on social tenancies in Northern Ireland, from housing allocations to sustaining tenancies and challenging eviction.

See all advice and information for professionals

Latest news

An unsigned tenancy agreement sits on a wooden table

Leaving a private tenancy early

At Housing Rights, we often hear from tenants who want to leave a private rented property before their contract ends. This can be for various reasons like, needing to move for work or struggling to get repairs carried out. 

11 November 2024
Faith Westwood — Practitioner Support Officer
Private tenants Tenancy agreement Deposit Landlord
Tenancy agreement with key

Tenant rights when landlord wants to sell

Our advisers have noted an increase in the number of people contacting us for help because their home is being sold by their private landlord. 

23 October 2024
Tenancy agreement Tenancy
Two people holding a large cheque

Housing Rights receives £10,975 as part of Co-Ownership’s 2024 Community Fund

Housing Rights has received £10,975 as part of Co-Ownership’s 2024 Community Fund. The money will launch a new training course for frontline workers. 

20 September 2024
Homelessness

Policy and research library

Our policy work is based on the experiences of people who contact us for advice. We work on their behalf to secure positive changes to housing legislation, policy and practice in Northern Ireland

You can find copies of policy briefings, consultation responses and research papers that Housing Rights has produced recently.

Visit our research library

Response to Consultation on the Draft Programme for Government 2024-27 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’

November 2024

Response to Consultation on the Draft Programme for Government 2024-27 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’

November 2024

Membership benefits

We have over 125 member organisations of Housing Rights who use our support and resources to help them provide quality housing advice. 

Advice and information

Access to our comprehensive advice and information on housing in Northern Ireland, a must for anyone providing advice.

Training discounts

Discounted places at Housing Rights training courses and professional events.

Housing Practitioner's Forum

Access to a round table discussion event highlighting the latest in housing law and practice and offering an opportunity to discuss common problems.

Become a member

How our advice and legal teams help

mother and child on sofa happy

ADVISER: Challenging a negative eligibility decision 

We stopped a young woman and her baby becoming homeless when the Housing Executive decided that her immigration status meant she was no longer entitled to temporary housing. 

Homelessness Eligibility

Training and events

VR headset

Housing and domestic abuse: an immersive training course

Housing Rights, The Skainos Centre, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF

9:30am to 4:00pm
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Housing & Young People

Housing Rights, The Skainos Centre

10:00am to 1:00pm
Homelessness Social rented sector Private rented sector
Woman online learning

Antisocial behaviour

Online, via Zoom

10:00am to 1:00pm
View all training and events

Contact us

Call us

To speak to a housing adviser call us on our helpline we are open between 09:30 and 16:30 Monday to Friday.

Live chat

You can chat with our helpline advisers online. Use the pop up at the bottom right of the screen. If we aren't available, we'll get back to you by email.

Submit an online form

You can send us your queries our online form. 

Visit our Contact us page

How our advice and legal teams help