The AMP LOGO

The results are in from the second Amp Survey in which we asked people who rent their homes to tell us how they are feeling about their living situation during the COVID-19 lockdown and about the support they have received, or not received, from their landlords.

We must note that the response to this survey was much lower than expected, and we cannot make any generalisations about the results. We aim to both improve the overall numbers of people registered to be a part of the Amp Survey Series and to increase communications around our next survey so that more people take part.

If you think it’s important for us to help make NI residents' voices heard on community and housing topics, please spread the word and encourage others to register and take part.

Q1. Who is your landlord?

Graph showing type of respondent by Tenure

We sent to survey to both private rented tenants and those who rent from housing associations and the Housing Executive.

The respondents broke down into the following categories:

45.45% NIHE tenants
18.18% Housing Association tenants
36.36% Private landlord renters

Q2. Considering the current COVID-19 crisis, on a scale of 0-5, how are you feeling about your living situation?

Using a sliding scale question, we found that on average, people were only moderately concerned about their situation during lockdown, the median result was a 2.23 on a 5 point scale.

Q3. If you are concerned, which of the following factors contribute to that?

Out of a list of choices, health concerns were most cited. 62% were worried about becoming ill or someone in their family becoming ill. Loneliness was the second most notable concern at 38%.

Drilling down into some of the specifics, however, we found that social housing tenants had different concerns than private rented tenants.

Of the people living in social housing, only 14% were worried about paying rent. For private rented tenants, this was one of their main concerns. 43% of private tenants were concerned about this second only to health concerns and on a par with loneliness.

Other concerns included a lack of outdoor space and being stuck in unsuitable accommodation for their needs.

Q4. Has your landlord been in touch to provide information about reducing loneliness or other support during this time?

As expected, we found a difference in responses depending on type of tenure.

About half of those in social housing said that their housing provider had been in touch about loneliness and support available, where as 75% of private tenants said their landlord had not been in touch.

Q5. Do you know what to do if you are unable to pay your rent?

Do You KNow What to Do if you can’t pay rent?

We were pleased to see that social housing tenants mostly said they knew what to do. 71% said yes outright with some responding that the were not sure - 21%. Only 7% said they did not know.

Private renters, however, were much less certain. 50% said they were not sure. Only 25% said they did know what to do.

Q6. Has your landlord advised you about maintenance service during COVID-19?

For social housing tenants the positive results were higher than the overall findings.

85% of social tenants said their landlord had explained what would happen in terms of maintenance services during the lockdown.

The results were split for the private renters. 50% said yes. 50% said no.

Q7. Do you feel comfortable allowing trades people in for maintenance on your home?

The survey showed the difference between private and social renters even persisted in their comfort levels around having maintenance done inside their homes.

57% of social housing tenants said they would be comfortable and another 36% said they might be if precautions are taken making a total of 93% who would probably be ok letting trades people in.

Private renters were much less sure. Only 25% said yes outright and a further 50% said maybe if precautions are taken.

Q8. What resources would you like your landlord to provide during this time?

This question allowed respondents to tick as many options as they liked including; phone calls to check on wellbeing, information on community groups nearby, help to set up video calling, information on paying rent and reporting repairs online, information on staying healthy, and help to shop online.

Social housing tenants showed responses across all the suggested areas – with the highest response being for info on how to keep healthy.

When it came to private renters, however, they only said they wanted Information on paying rent and reporting repairs online.

Q9. What should be your landlord’s main priority over the next few months?

The lockdown period has clarified priorities for a lot of people. We asked tenants what they thought their landlord should prioritise as we start to come out of lockdown.

Social housing tenants responded that they wanted support with communal issues in their area such as improving outdoor spaces, improving the exterior of homes, and stopping antisocial behaviour such as large house parties.

Private tenants just wanted more assurances from their landlords that they would be safe in their tenancies, safe from eviction, and made aware of what to do if they were in financial trouble in terms of paying rent.

Q10. Where are you finding reliable information about COVID-19 and what to do to stay safe? (check all that apply)

We also wanted know where people are getting their information about what is happening with the COVID-19 pandemic. TV and radio news was the most popular answer at 55% followed by social media at 45% of respondents saying they found reliable information there.

Q11. Finally, let's end on a high note: What is the most positive development or project you have seen in your community?

At Supporting Communities we have been heartened by all the great community responses to the crisis.

We thought we would end our survey by giving people a chance to highlight something positive that has happened where they live. Many people mentioned that the crisis has made people more neighbourly, helpful and kind. We hope we can all keep that community spirit going!

A selection of the positive things mentioned include:

Down Community Collective's evening entertainment around housing estates funded by NIHE covid 19 response fund
Seeing people come out for the clap on Thursday has been lovely
Redesign of walls through Peace IV, Beam Creative Network and our community group
People are more neighbourly
Volunteers helping people with shopping and food deliveries
All community groups working to keep their residents supported and safe
Everyone helping others
The setting up of a response group
Delivery of hot meals to those that need them, food parcel delivery for people self isolating.
Local people making masks and providing to key workers! 💜
I love that volunteers set up the extremely useful and very popular fb page “Who is delivering NI”
Recently an organization came and delivered two bags of essentials which was really very good and totally unexpected
People are looking out for each other more so now
Bovalley Community Association response in our area. They have provide food packs care packs and activity packs. All the residents have been chatting about the response from our gardens over walls etc
Lower North Belfast Action Group
Community coming together with Ardboe GAA and helping people out lest fortunately than some
Less anti-social behaviour and people being kinder to one another
Food parcels being delivered to those in need
People helping each other
Community groups helping vulnerable people

Thank You!

Thanks once again to everyone who took part. If you would like to be a part of the next survey, please fill in this registration form and pass it on to friends and family!

The Amp is open to all Northern Ireland residents regardless of tenure, but we do plan to be able to segment the list and send some surveys out by area, type of tenure, or another category as needed, so we encourage everyone to get involved and help amplify all of our voices!

Read more about the Amp and how it works.