Housing ombudsman and mortgage relief among policies

A HOUSING ombudsman with the power to impose a code of conduct on estate agents, investigate customer complaints and take disciplinary action should be appointed, according to Sinn Féin.

In a detailed housing policy discussed at its Ard-Fheis on Saturday, the party pledged to increase mortgage relief for first-time buyers and provide new State-led initiatives which would enable lower income earners to purchase homes.

The policy also outlined the need to increase the number of social houses so that they account for 25% of the total housing stock countrywide in future.