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Reclassification reversal will not apply to Northern Ireland
The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) decision to provisionally reverse its reclassification of housing associations will apply to England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland.
Bills to deregulate landlords enough for the ONS to move them back to the private sector are making their way through Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff Bay.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the ONS will provisionally move housing associations in these regions back off the public balance sheet pending the proposals being passed into law.
But Northern Ireland is currently without a functioning government after a snap election in March. This means that despite cross-party support, no such legislation has yet been put forward at Stormont.
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A spokesperson for the ONS said: “What we have said applied to England, Scotland and Wales. A legislative process is going through in each of those countries which in our view means housing associations can be provisionally reclassified, but this is not the case in Northern Ireland.
“The situation there would have to await some sort of political resolution. There needs to be a change in legislation before we can make any substantive reclassification.”
Civil servants have drafted a bill for the reclassification to be reversed ready for when members of the legislative assembly return after a deal between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party has been reached or the region becomes subject to direct rule from ministers in London.
Alternatively, Inside Housing understands that legislation for the Northern Ireland sector could be passed through Westminster if the parties do not agree to a power share, possibly either through an ordering council or as an addition to the bill for English housing associations.
Ben Collins, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, said: “The Department for Communities (DfC) has confirmed to us that a parliamentary draftsperson has been appointed and this will enable legislation to be progressed through Westminster or the Northern Ireland Assembly in the near future.
“We welcome this progress and will do everything we can to help secure the reversal of the reclassification by the ONS.”
A spokesperson for the DfC said: “Officials continue to develop policy options and legislative proposals for consideration by an incoming Minister to facilitate a reversal of the ONS reclassification of Northern Ireland’s Registered Housing Associations.”
Update: at 14:41 06/11/17
The story was updated to make it clearer that the ONS is awaiting legislation in England, Scotland and Wales to be passed before it returns housing associations to the private sector.
Update: at 9:47 07/11/17
The story was updated to include a quote from the DfC.
