To ask the Minister for Communities to clarify (i) the terms and conditions for the Housing Policy Panel; and (ii) how appointments to the panel are made.

The Housing Policy Panel was established as part of the Tenant Participation Strategy to represent social housing tenants in the development of departmental policies that are relevant to their interests. No parameters were set for its operation or formation by the Department. As the appointed Independent Tenant Organisation, Supporting Communities NI were responsible for establishing the Housing Policy Panel and for developing its Terms of Reference as part of the first action plan for the Tenant Participation Strategy.

Tenant representatives are nominated by Registered Housing Associations from their tenant engagement groups and from the Housing Executive’s Central Housing Forum.