Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) Functions

NIHE is the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland and its statutory functions are principally set out in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These include the examination and assessment of housing need. NIHE publish a 'Commissioning Prospectus' on an annual basis which provides key information for stakeholders in relation to affordable housing for council areas across Northern Ireland. NIHE is also landlord to over 80,000 social rented dwellings and is responsible for the management and delivery of the Social Housing Development Programme. The number of homes to be provided in each programme year is governed by the amount of funding, available from central government through DfC. This function involves making payments of the Housing Association Grant to RHAs, in respect of the construction and provision of social housing. NIHE are also a key statutory consultee in the local development plan process, as well as providing statutory consultee input into the development management process where an application has been submitted which includes aspects relating to affordable housing.