Oral Statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly - Update on the Affordable Rent Programme

Date published: 16 June 2026

Members will recall my previous announcement on this important initiative, when Maple and May was selected to act as the first Affordable Rent Operator. I can now confirm that, since then, terms have been agreed and £61.5 million in FTC loan funding has been formally awarded to support delivery. This is a significant milestone and the next step towards these homes becoming available for rent.

It means that we are now moving from policy ambition into real, tangible delivery: providing the homes that people right across Northern Ireland desperately need. Indeed, the first scheme will be open for applications in the coming weeks under the “Maple and May Affordable Rent” brand.

This programme represents a strong and innovative public–private partnership. An initial investment from my Department will act as a catalyst, leveraging substantial private capital, alongside additional private revenue investment from Maple and May. Together these bring the total value of this funding programme to over £122m over the 25-year loan term.

And importantly, because this is loan funding, it allows me to continue prioritising my capital budget towards grant funding for social housing, therefore maximising every available resource towards the delivery of new homes.

The homes delivered under this programme will be high-quality, new-build properties, located across Northern Ireland. They will form part of mixed-tenure developments, as well as standalone schemes, helping to create balanced, sustainable communities where people can put down roots.

Critically, these homes will be offered for rents at least 20% below local market levels. That is a meaningful saving for working households. Rents can only be uplifted once annually in line with private rented legislation, with an effective cap in place. Homes will be targeted towards lower income households. And alongside that affordability, tenants will benefit from greater security through longer tenancies in high-quality, well-maintained homes, and access to support services when they need them. 

Turning to delivery, the first scheme will be in Dungannon, where fifteen two and three-bedroom homes are being built alongside social housing. This will be the first mixed-tenure development of its kind in Northern Ireland. 

As this, and other schemes near completion, they will be advertised by Maple and May for rent, and eligible households can apply for a tenancy.  These tenancies are deliberately targeted towards lower income households, to maximise impact.

Further schemes will follow within this financial year in Newry, Craigavon, and Lisburn, with additional locations planned, including Belfast and Derry/Londonderry as part of an expanded rollout next year.

These first homes, on the Old Eglish Road in Dungannon, are expected to be available to rent from later this summer, and I can confirm that advertising for these properties will begin shortly via the Maple and May website.

This programme is about providing real options for people. It will give people and families access to more affordable rents, greater stability, and a genuine opportunity to plan ahead: whether that is for saving towards home ownership or simply securing a suitable affordable home while waiting for access to social housing.

Access to these homes will be fair, transparent and consistent. Eligibility criteria for a tenancy have been clearly set out in my department’s policy. For example, households must earn below £30,000 for a single adult, or £40,000 for households with two adults. This is intended to direct these tenancies to households who need them and who can derive most benefit from what’s being offered. 

There is no doubt, this type of housing is badly needed. Too many people are caught in the gap between being unable to access social housing and unable to afford the cost of living in the private rental market. This programme is a direct response to that challenge.

And let me be clear: this is only the beginning. Work is already underway to expand delivery beyond the initial 300 homes. My ambition is to see this model grow and play a meaningful role in addressing housing supply and housing need across Northern Ireland.

Alongside continued investment in social housing, this funding demonstrates a practical and innovative approach. It aligns with the objectives of the Housing Supply Strategy: to increase supply, broaden choice, and ensure that people have access to the housing they need.  Over time, it will reduce pressure on our social housing waiting list, as households who meet the criteria, can access affordable housing. 

It also reflects my personal commitment, as Minister, to increase housing stock, to use the resources available as effectively as possible, and to adopt new approaches where they can make a difference.

And my commitment goes far beyond delivery of this new type of affordable housing for rent.  The Housing Supply Strategy seeks to accelerate the delivery of housing supply over the coming years.  Shared ownership delivery, through Co-Ownership, is being expanded and plays a key role in enabling particularly first-time buyers to allow more people to access affordable home ownership.  Their Over 55 scheme is also providing an important additional element of choice for people to move to homes that better suit their needs at they get older.

And I continue to press, at every opportunity, to prioritise accessing the necessary capital funding to deliver the social homes we need. At the beginning of 2025/26, the outlook for the Social Housing Development Programme was poor with a budget that would only have achieved 1,100 new social homes. 

I secured a further £42m resulting in the largest investment ever in the Social Housing Development Programme, and achieved 1,765 new social home starts, representing a 17% increase in delivery year-on-year. There are now over 6,000 new social homes under construction across Northern Ireland. 

Looking forward, we need to do more. We need to secure more budget much earlier. In December, £29m was as much extra funding as the programme could absorb once in-year funding became available. 

I have therefore repeatedly pressed the Executive to earmark more funding for SHDP and while there is some impact from this in the current budget proposals – this is still not enough.

Hence my proposal to secure public sector land instead of grant, the reviews of grant and design – and the range of measures being explored or introduced that will complement SHDP towards the Housing Supply targets: New Foundations, Housing Executive Acquisitions – and the Housing Supply Action Plan is with Executive Colleagues.

For the Housing Executive, I secured the major achievement of a commitment from the UK Government to consider NIHE borrowing as part of the NI fiscal framework discussions. In the meantime, urgent engagement continues between officials on a means to secure the financial viability of the Housing Executive and identify an interim solution to its investment need.

I fully intend to make good on the commitments I have made in this place, and in the Supply Strategy, to make sure every household can have access to a good quality, affordable and sustainable home that is appropriate for their needs and is located within a thriving and inclusive community.

And that is what these new affordable rent homes will do.  Ultimately, this programme is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about giving people security, providing stability, and helping hard-pressed individuals and families build a future.

I look forward to updating the House further as delivery progresses.

Thank you.