To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s policy for viewing and moving homes due to the impact of COVID-19.

The Housing Executive continues to work with its contractors and prospective tenants to re-let its homes as quickly as possible while at all times adhering to the Health Protection Coronavirus Restrictions and government guidance. Its aim is to ensure that applicants on the waiting list, particularly households who are statutory homeless, can commence their new tenancies and move into their new home as soon as possible. The primary consideration within these arrangements is to continue to minimise any potential risk to customers, staff and contractors.

Measures have been put in place to enable housing assessment and allocation processes to be completed online or over the telephone.

Housing Executive policy is that viewings should be facilitated as normal, whenever possible, during the Coronavirus emergency. Staff have been asked to exercise due care when organising and facilitating viewings and to adhere strictly to the applicable Public Health Agency (PHA) guidance and any local risk assessments. Where accompanied viewings are not possible, guidance has been issued to local offices allowing the discretion to find alternate solutions to ensure that customers are given an opportunity to view the property e.g. virtual viewings, opening dwellings at a pre-arranged time or providing keys to allow the customer access.

The Housing Executive’s policy is that PHA guidance is followed at all times e.g. avoiding unnecessary contacts, adhering to social distancing guidelines and through the use of PPE where relevant.