PBP East Derry condemns inaction on borough housing crisis

PBP East Derry branch strongly condemns the inaction of Stormont ministers to address the ongoing housing crisis in the local
borough. PBP believes that the crisis in local housing is caused primarily by a severe lack of social housing, and the rise of second homes and Airbnb’s as an extremely profitable venture for local landlords and developers. PBP understands that many
working class people are being forced to leave the towns they grew up in as prices for first time buyers and renters become completely unattainable on the average local salary. PBP condemns the lack of action and attention paid to this issue by the
Stormont executive and ministers. PBP understands that the private housing market will always follow the most profitable path, and is therefore incapable of successfully regulating its own actions, PBP believes government intervention is necessary to prevent further harm to working people and local communities.

PBP East Derry branch member George McElhinney says “Local people have understood for years now that the area is dealing with a large-scale housing crisis, young people especially are often completely unable to afford remaining in the area when young residents are forced to leave their hometowns, the affect on the local economy can be vast. We are caught in a housing death spiral where, as more economically productive residents are forced to leave, the borough will be left without the means to support itself, and become ever more reliant on a tourist economy of Airbnbs and Second homes, it’s urgent that the executive realises the position the area is in and takes decisive action before it becomes too late.”

PBP East Derry strongly encourages anyone upset or angry about the local housing crisis to fill out the public consultation for our “people’s housing bill”, currently making it’s way through the assembly, this bill aims to tackle the housing crisis across the
north by reducing and capping rents, banning no-fault evictions, and establishing a rental board to fight on behalf of tenants.