The Intermediate Rent policy, which sets the framework for the development of more high-quality, long-term, affordable housing with support services comes following a public consultation which gathered views on how this new housing product should work.

Intermediate Rent seeks to offer a more secure, affordable and supportive rental option for eligible households who are struggling with the costs of market rentals.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: “The publication of the Intermediate Rent policy sets in place another lever to deliver an additional supply of affordable rental homes for low to moderate-income households.

“The policy aims to reduce the barriers which some households face in accessing or maintaining a rented home, such as tenancy insecurity, limited support services and, critically, unaffordably high rents.”