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Over 1,000 tenants awarded intimidation points in three years

Almost 1,300 social housing tenants have been awarded intimidation points in the last three years. Picture by Hugh Russell
Almost 1,300 social housing tenants have been awarded intimidation points in the last three years. Picture by Hugh Russell Almost 1,300 social housing tenants have been awarded intimidation points in the last three years. Picture by Hugh Russell

ALMOST 1,300 social housing tenants have been awarded 'intimidation' points in the past three years, new figures have revealed.

The Housing Executive said 1,285 people had been awarded 200 intimidation points, which can dramatically increase a tenant's chance of securing a house move.

The figures show that an average of 600 people a year in the north have presented as homeless due to intimidation, with two-thirds of those awarded intimidation points.

Under the current points system for the allocation of Housing Executive properties, intimidation cases are awarded the single highest tally of points.

The vast majority of cases awarded intimidation points - 785 – were in the Belfast area.

Almost half a million pounds was also spent in three years providing emergency grants to those re-housed due to claims of intimidation.

A total of £444,860 was paid out in emergency funds in the three years, with an individual grant of £754 available to people forced to move.

A smaller number, 34 applicants, made more than one claim of intimidation in the three-year period.

Fewer than five cases in the north were re-housed three times in as many years due to reports of intimidation.

According to a Housing Executive report, waiting lists for social housing in the north rose to an all-time peak of 40,000 in September 2012.