The Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 2014-15 is released

A report entitled “Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 2014-15” was published today by DSD.
The Northern Ireland Housing Statistics report is produced each year by the Analytical Services Unit of the Department for Social Development. This report is an annual compendium of statistics containing information on a range of areas relating to housing.

Key facts include:

Supply

• There were 771,133 dwellings in Northern Ireland in April 2015, a rise of 3,755 (0.5%) from 2014 (767,378). The volume of housing stock has increased year on year throughout the time series with the rate of growth fluctuating
• In 2014-15, there were 5,506 new dwelling completions recorded by Building Control, an increase of 4% from the previous year (5,316)
• During 2014-15 there were 1,658 Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) new dwelling completions, a fall of 16% from 2013-14 (1,967). Figures for the SHDP are sourced from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• The volume of Housing Output in the second quarter (April-June) of 2015 increased by 11.9% compared to the previous quarter and was 19.5% higher than the same quarter in 2014
• In 2014-15, there were 7,339 residential planning applications, this is a rise of 16% on the previous year. In 2014-15 there were 6,406 decisions, and of these 93% were granted (5,974)

Energy

• In the year ended 31st March 2015, 6,985 homes benefited from the ‘Warm Homes Scheme’ grants, amounting to over £10.1 million. Sixty one percent of grants processed were for Owner Occupied homes and the remainder for the Private Rented Sector
• Between September 2012 and March 2015 grants for 26,010 replacement boilers were approved, amounting to almost £17.9 million. This equates to an average grant of £688 per household

Social Renting Demand

• The average weekly rent (excluding rates and service charges) charged by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was £63.46 in 2014-15. This is an increase of 4% from the previous year (£60.88)
• The average weekly rent (excluding rates and service charges) charged by Housing Associations in 2013-14 (latest available) was £73.81, a rise of 5% from the previous year (£70.47)
• In total, 19,621 households presented as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 2014-15, an increase of 4% from the previous year (18,862). The household types with the highest number of homeless presenters in 2014-15 were single males (35%) and families (32%)
• In 2014-15, of the 19,621 households presenting as homeless 11,016 households (56%) were accepted as full duty applicants and 6,797 (35%) were rejected. Of those households accepted as full duty applicants during the year 3,568 were discharged

Private Renting Demand

• The average (median) rent per week for the private rented sector in Northern Ireland in 2013-14 was £92, £35 below the UK average (£127) and lower than England (£133), Scotland (£108) and Wales (£100). Figures pertaining to private rents are sourced from the Family Resources Survey; the latest year available for analysis is 2013-14
• The average (median) rent per week for the social rented sector in Northern Ireland in 2013-14 was £69, £15 lower than the UK average (£84) and £23 lower than that of the private rented sector
• Thirty eight percent of private renters in Northern Ireland paid £100 or more per week compared to 71% of private renters in the UK

Owner Occupied Demand

• The number of completed applications for the Co-Ownership Housing Scheme in 2014-15 was 1,140. This is a decrease of 7% from 2013-14 (1,223). The median price of a property purchased through the scheme during 2014-15 was £115,000
• The number of loans for first time buyers and home movers in 2014 was 7,500 and 5,500 respectively. In comparison to 2013, this represents an increase of 25% for first time buyers and 34% for home movers
• The number of mortgage cases received by the Chancery Division of the Northern Ireland High Court in 2014-15 was 2,393, 33% lower than 2013-14.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Northern Ireland Housing Statistics is an annual compendium of statistics. The publication is divided into sections covering: Supply; Energy; Social Renting Demand; Private Renting Demand; Owner Occupier Demand and Household Characteristics
2. Housing stock data are based on administrative data published by Land and Property Services
3. Building Control New Dwelling Starts and Completions data are published by Land and Property Services (LPS). The starts and completions data for the social sector are sourced from the NIHE which manages the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP). The required number of housing starts for the SHDP is set out in the Programme for Government targets and DSD is responsible for the allocation of funding for the programme
4. Data on the volume of Housing Output in Northern Ireland is obtained from the Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin. Housing Output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with Housing. Repair and Maintenance work in relation to housing includes repairs, maintenance, improvements, house/ flat conversions, extensions, alterations and redecoration on existing housing
5. Data on residential planning applications and decisions are sourced from the Department of the Environment
6. Data on the Warm Homes and Boiler Replacement Scheme are sourced from the NIHE
7. Statistics on NIHE average rents are sourced from the NIHE whilst statistics on Housing Association average rents are based on information collected by DSD on social housing stock owned by its registered Housing Associations (HAs)
8. Statistics on homelessness are sourced from the NIHE. Where the Housing Executive concludes that an applicant is eligible, homeless (threatened with homelessness), in priority need and unintentionally homeless it owes them full housing duty. An applicant to whom full housing duty is owed is referred to as a “Full Duty Applicant” – FDA. In this case the Executive shall ensure that accommodation becomes available for their occupation. The Housing Executive can discharge its housing duty in one of three ways: by re-housing of the applicant in the social or private sector, by offering the applicant three reasonable offers of accommodation which are all refused by the applicant or if the applicant re-houses him/herself and is no longer interested
9. Statistics on private sector rents are sourced from the Family Resources Survey 2013-14 (the latest available in the series). The Family Resources Survey collects detailed information on the incomes and circumstances of private households from April to March each year
10. Statistics on the Co-Ownership Housing Scheme are sourced from DSD
11. Statistics on mortgage lending are sourced from the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) Regulated Mortgage Survey
12. Data on mortgage cases are sourced from the NI Courts and Tribunals Service
13. Copies of the Housing Statistics publication can be downloaded
14. Further enquiries should be addressed to:
    Analytical Services Unit
    Department for Social Development
    Level One
    James House
    2-4 Cromac Avenue
    Gasworks Business Park
    Ormeau Road
    Belfast
    BT7 2JA

    Telephone 02890 819944
    email asu@dsdni.go.uk

15. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Social Development Press Office on 028 9082 9496 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

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