Press Release: Women’s Policy Group NI Welcomes Proposed Ban on Unfair Letting Fees ​​

The Women’s Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG NI) has submitted a response to the consultation on the proposed Bill to ban unfair letting fees, noting that the provisions contained in the Bill will help realise the aspiration of housing as a human right. ​

The WPG NI, a group of policy experts and practitioners who advocate collectively for women and girls by promoting gender equality through an intersectional feminist lens, highlighted the disproportionate impact of unfair rental fees on women, LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and working-class communities. ​ The group emphasised that housing is a fundamental human right and called for urgent action to address systemic inequalities in the housing market.

In its response, the WPG NI outlined key recommendations, including:

• Adopting a “Housing First” policy to support homeless populations. ​

• Introducing progressive taxation on multiple-property ownership to curb landlord monopolies. ​

• Enforcing rent controls in urban areas to protect tenants from exploitation. ​

• Ring-fencing public housing for women escaping domestic abuse. ​

The group also raised concerns about the financial strain caused by arbitrary fees, such as holding deposits and charges for tenancy changes, which disproportionately affect low-income renters. ​ The WPG NI stressed that these fees privilege wealthier tenants and create barriers to accessing housing for vulnerable groups. ​

The provisions in this Bill are a step toward ensuring housing is treated as a human right, not a privilege. ​ By banning unfair letting fees, financial barriers for renters can be reduced and this represents meaningful action to address housing inequality in Northern Ireland.

The WPG NI also called for robust enforcement mechanisms to prevent landlords and letting agents from circumventing the legislation, ensuring its positive impact is fully realised. ​

The Women’s Policy Group NI supports this Bill and urges policy makers to take further steps to address the housing crisis, including increasing social housing stock and tackling exploitation in the private rental market.

ENDS

For further information or media inquiries, please contact: Elaine Crory, Women’s Sector Lobbyist ​ Email: elaine.crory@wrda.net ​