COMMUNITIES minister Deirdre Hargey has ruled out selling off social housing stock this year.
The Housing Executive had warned it may have to start "de-investing" in half its portfolio.
This could lead to the "gradual loss of 43,000 social homes".
The executive said it was facing a significant funding shortfall largely due to low rents that were insufficient to support all its activities and costs.
A 2.75 per cent hike will come into effect in April and result in an average weekly increase of £1.79.
The rent rise was suggested in a first day ministerial brief for Ms Hargey.
That brief also suggested that if hundreds of millions of pounds extra could not be found, it would need to begin the process of selling off its houses.
Ms Hargey said on Twitter yesterday "there are no plans to sell off housing stock".
"I have ambitious plans to increase public housing to meet the growing need," she added.
Sinn Féin later issued a clarification confirming that no Housing Executive homes would be sold this year.
SDLP housing spokesman Mark H Durkan said proposals to sell off Housing Executive stock would have "a critical and lasting impact on efforts to tackle growing housing waiting lists".
"If we're serious about tackling housing need then we need substantial investment in new-build housing as well as the waste-water infrastructure necessary to deliver it and the release of land, including government owned land," he said.
"And we need a serious discussion about giving the Housing Executive the tools it needs to operate effectively to provide housing and end homelessness. That will require new thinking and political will."
