To ask the Minister for Communities what support he will make available (i) during the current financial year; and (ii) early in the next financial year, to prevent Housing Associations imposing rent rises in order to meet rising costs.

Decisions on rent levels in Housing Association properties are taken by each Housing Association’s Board and my Department has no power to prevent rent increases by Associations.

In terms of support for tenants, Housing Associations provide welfare advice, signposting to other support services and proactively work to identify those who are experiencing difficulty paying their rent in order to provide support to ensure that tenancies continue.