£122m affordable rent scheme launched to help Northern Ireland families struggling with housing costs

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Deirdre Steele, Head of Maple and May, have hailed Affordable Rent as a pioneering initiative that will help hard pressed people and families by delivering high-quality homes at an affordable rent for lower-income households

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched Northern Ireland’s first-ever Affordable Rent programme, a major new housing initiative designed to help lower-income households access quality homes at rents below market rates while easing pressure on the social housing system.

Backed by an initial £61.5 million investment from the Department for Communities, the programme will deliver 300 new homes across Northern Ireland through a partnership with housing provider Maple and May, offering rents set at 20% below local market levels.

For many households caught between rising private rents and long waiting lists for social housing, the scheme aims to provide a new pathway to secure, long-term accommodation while helping people save towards home ownership.

First homes planned for Dungannon with expansion across Northern Ireland

The first Affordable Rent development will be built at Old Eglish Road in Dungannon.

Further schemes are expected to follow during the current financial year in Newry, Craigavon, Lisburn and Londonderry, with additional locations, including Belfast, planned in future years.

The first homes are expected to become available from summer 2026, with advertising due to begin shortly through Maple and May, PropertyPal and PropertyNews.

The initiative marks the first delivery of homes under Northern Ireland’s Intermediate Rent Policy, a key component of the Executive’s long-term Housing Supply Strategy.

Who will qualify for the new affordable homes?

Eligibility will be based on household income and is intended to target those struggling to meet the cost of private renting.

Under the current criteria:

• Single-adult households must have a net income of up to £30,000 per year

• Two-adult households must have a combined net income of up to £40,000 per year

In addition to discounted rents, Maple and May says the homes will offer features designed to provide greater security and flexibility for tenants, including tenancy agreements of up to five years and flexible deposit arrangements.

Minister says initiative could be “transformational”

Launching the programme, Mr Lyons described Affordable Rent as a significant change in Northern Ireland’s housing landscape.

“As Minister with responsibility for housing, I am determined to be radical, innovative and ambitious to deliver for hard-pressed people and families,” he said.

“Affordable Rent is a landmark initiative for Northern Ireland. It has the potential to be truly transformational, not only for the housing market but for the lives of those who will benefit from these new high-quality homes at below market rents.”

The Minister said the programme forms part of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring access to affordable, sustainable housing within thriving communities.

He also argued that increasing the supply of affordable rented homes could help reduce demand on Northern Ireland’s already stretched social housing waiting list over time.

“Secure, affordable housing transforms lives, and is about more than the physical fabric of the home,” he said.

“It is about people and community. It is about a sense of belonging, and it is about providing families and individuals with a place where they can live, connect and thrive.”

More than £122 million investment package

While the Department for Communities is providing £61.5 million through a low-interest, long-term Financial Transactions Capital loan, the overall programme represents a substantially larger investment.

Maple and May will leverage an additional £10.8 million in private capital finance alongside approximately £50 million in private revenue finance.

Together, the funding package brings total investment in the programme to more than £122 million.

The Department believes the loan-based funding model offers a dual benefit by supporting the delivery of affordable rented homes while allowing traditional capital funding to continue supporting social housing developments elsewhere.

Mr Lyons said this approach reflects a more innovative response to Northern Ireland’s housing pressures and could play a lasting role in addressing housing need in the years ahead.

Housing provider highlights greater flexibility for tenants

Deirdre Steele, Head of Maple and May, said the programme would provide a new option for households struggling to access suitable accommodation through existing routes.

“This exciting initiative will enable Maple and May to support local communities through the delivery of 300 new affordable homes across Northern Ireland,” she said.

“As a first for Northern Ireland, this innovative project will provide greater flexibility for individuals and families looking to access the private property market.”

She added that the scheme had been carefully designed to help people secure homes that best suit their needs while offering longer-term stability than many traditional private rental arrangements.

Part of wider strategy to increase housing supply

The Affordable Rent programme is one of the first major projects to emerge from Northern Ireland’s Housing Supply Strategy 2024–2039, which identifies the need for a broader range of housing options to meet growing demand across the region.

Maple and May was confirmed in March 2025 as Northern Ireland’s first Intermediate Rent Operator and will oversee delivery of the new homes. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Choice Housing (Ireland) Ltd and was established to improve standards in the private rented sector while generating revenue to support those experiencing acute housing need.

With housing affordability continuing to be a major challenge for many households, the success of the scheme is likely to be closely watched as the first tenants prepare to move into homes next year.

For more information about the Affordable Rent programme, visit: http://www.mapleandmay.co.uk

Further information on the Executive Housing Supply Strategy 2024–2039 is available at: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/new-housing-supply-strategy

More information on Northern Ireland’s Intermediate Rent Policy can be found at: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/affordable-rent