Northern Ireland’s minister for communities has announced that intimidation points will be removed from the Housing Selection Scheme to “level the playing field” for victims of violence on social housing waiting lists.

The change means victims of sectarian of terrorist intimidation will no longer receive additional points compared to those who have suffered other forms of abuse, such as domestic violence.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), the strategic housing authority which sets the rules that decides eligibility in social housing, is now aiming to remove the rule, called Rule 23, by the end of this financial year. The change is expected therefore to come into effect by April.