Annual Housing Statistics 2024-25
jk
2025-09-25
2024-25
An Accredited
Official Statistics publication
Published
by: Analytics Division, Department for Communities
Frequency: Annual
Publication Date: 25 September 2025
Key Points
The total housing stock as of April 2025 is 841,827.
The Affordable Warmth Scheme improved 1,694 homes in 2024-25.
On 31 March 2025, there were 49,083 applicants on the social housing waiting list. Of these applicants, 37,635 were in housing stress.
In 2024-25, 10,855 households were accepted as statutorily homeless.
In the private rented sector the average weekly rent was £138, while in the social rented sector the average weekly rent was £94.
In Quarter 2 of 2025, the House Price Index stands at 113.9, a 5.5% increase on the same quarter in 2024. (HPI reference period: Q1 2023 = 100). The standardised house price for this quarter is £185,108.
In 2024-25, the average rates bill was £1,180.
Introduction
This annual compendium of statistics contains information on a range of areas relating to housing. The report is divided into sections covering: supply; energy; social renting demand; private renting demand; owner occupier demand and household characteristics. In this summary document you will find quick and concise coverage of each of these topics. More in depth statistics and information on methodology can be found in the accompanying tables and appendix documents at:
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-housing-statistics-2024-25
Analytics Division (AD) receives data for this report from a number of data providers. AD carries out a number of validation checks to quality assure all data received, however, responsibility for accuracy of the data supplied lies primarily with the source.
The Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 2024-25 is the third edition to be released in html format, however, this continues to reflect the updated format introduced in 2016-17.
These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in February 2019. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled National Statistics (or ‘accredited official statistics’). Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. Please see: Accredited official statistics - Office for Statistics Regulation
This report presents figures for the period April 2024-March 2025.
Lead Statisticians: Katie McFadden, Kerry Millin
Section 1: Supply
This section provides a wide range of information relating to housing supply. Detailed data on housing stock, tenure, new dwelling starts and completions, volume of construction, and planning applications and decisions can be found in the accompanying tables.
Key housing supply figures
The total housing stock as of April 2025 is 841,827, an increase of 0.7% when compared with 2024 (835,988).
The average household size in 2023-24 was 2.5.
The total housing stock per 1,000 population in 2024-25 is equal to 434.
Household tenure 2023-24
Based on the 2023-24 Family Resources Survey, 69% of households lived in dwellings that were owned outright or owned with a mortgage (40% and 29% respectively).
In the same period, 16% of households were privately rented and 14% were social rented.
Building control starts and completions 2024-25
Note: This publication reports on two different measures of social housing: Building Control and SHDP. These figures often differ from each other but this is not due to error. The difference is partially explained by the timing of when they are recorded but in more recent years is also influenced by social housing units being typically built privately and subsequently acquired by social housing providers. Therefore, while Building Control will correctly reflect construction of a privately owned dwelling, upon occupancy the property will be a social dwelling and will be reflected as such in the SHDP figures. For more information see Appendix - Section One.
There were 6,580 new dwelling starts in 2024-25, an increase of 9.8% on 2023-24. Based on the defined Building Control purpose group, almost nine in every ten dwelling starts (5,755) were in the private sector, with the remaining (825) being in the social sector.
There were 6,125 new dwelling completions in 2024-25, a 13.1% increase on 2023-24. Similar to housing starts, almost nine in every ten dwelling completions (5,212) were in the private sector, with the remaining tenth (913) in the social sector, based on the defined Building Control purpose group.
Residential planning decisions granted 2024-25
Map based on Planning DFI data and developed by Analytics Division, DfC. Copyright: Crown Copyright and database rights MOU209
Of the 5,896 planning decisions made in 2024-25, 95% were granted (5,591).
The highest proportions of residential planning decisions granted related to urban replacement single dwellings (100%), rural extensions and alterations (99%) and urban extensions and alterations (99%).
Mid Ulster received the greatest number of residential planning applications during 2024-25 (871). It has one of the higher proportions of decisions granted (98%), with only Derry City & Strabane being higher (99%). The area with the lowest proportion of decisions granted was Antrim & Newtownabbey (91%).
Section 2: Energy
This section provides information relating to domestic energy. Detailed data on household fuel type, energy efficiency, Affordable Warmth Scheme and Boiler Replacement Scheme can be found in the accompanying tables.
Central heating by fuel type 2016
Information on central heating is taken from the House Condition Survey (HCS), the most recent of which is the 2016 edition, which defines central heating as a heating system with a distribution system sufficient to provide heat in at least two rooms.
The percentage of homes with central heating has risen from 95% in 2001 to 99% in 2016.
While gas has seen the largest increase in installations in this time frame, accounting for 24% of heating systems in 2016, the majority of homes still had oil central heating (67% of heating systems).
Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings 2016
SAP is the Government’s recommended system for home energy ratings as it allows comparisons of energy efficiency. The SAP rating is expressed as a logarithmic scale, which normally runs from 1 (very inefficient) to 100 (no energy costs).
In 2016, social housing (NIHE and housing associations) had the highest SAP rating of all tenures at 72.63.
The private rented sector and owner occupied dwellings had ratings of 65.33 and 65.11 respectively.
Affordable Warmth Scheme 2024-25
The Affordable Warmth Scheme, introduced in September 2014, is targeted at fuel poor households in the private sector.
In 2024-25, there were a total of 2,118 approvals issued.
Improvements were made to 1,694 homes at a cost of £10.8 million.
Section 4: Private renting demand
This section provides information relating to private renting demand. Detailed data on average rent and length of time of residence for private renters can be found in the accompanying tables. Estimates in this section are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The survey has been carried out in Northern Ireland since 2002-03, while it has been running in Great Britain since 1992.
Average weekly rent
The estimated average (median) rent per week for the private rented sector in Northern Ireland in 2023-24 was £138, £34 below the UK average (£172). Rent in Northern Ireland was lower than England (£184) but similar to that in Wales (£139) and Scotland (£137).
For comparison, the estimated average (median) rent per week for the social rented sector in Northern Ireland in 2023-24 was £94, £11 lower than the UK average (£105) and £44 lower than that of the private rented sector.
Time in residence
In 2023-24, almost a fifth (18%) of private renters in Northern Ireland had resided in their accommodation for less than 12 months, which was the same proportion as for the UK as a whole.
The proportion of private renters in Northern Ireland residing at their current address for five years or more was higher than for the UK as a whole (43% and 34%, respectively).
Section 5: Owner occupier demand
This section provides information relating to owner occupied housing. Detailed data on the Northern Ireland House Price Index, National House Building Council (NHBC) new house sales and prices, the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Scheme, mortgages and mortgage possessions can be found in the accompanying tables.
House Price Index - Quarter 2: April - June 2025
The NI House Price Index has been designed and produced by Land and Property Services to provide a measure of change in the price of a standardised residential property sold in Northern Ireland. The index uses information on all verified residential property sales as recorded by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The reference base period is Quarter 1 2023 and the index is set to 100 for that period. Results for the most recent quarter are provisional and subject to revision.
The NI HPI stands at 113.9 in the second quarter of 2025, which is equal to a standardised price of £185,108. The overall index showed an increase of 0.3% compared with the previous quarter in 2025, and an increase of 5.5% on the same quarter in 2024.
Verified residential property sales are defined as sales recorded by HMRC which could be matched to a domestic property in the NI Valuation List. In Quarter 2 2025 there were 4,495 verified residential property sales. This was a decrease of 18.5% on the same quarter of 2024.
NHBC new dwelling sales and prices 2024-25
Data for new house sales and prices are derived from information provided by solicitors to the National House Building Council (NHBC). NHBC’s primary purpose is to help raise standards to protect homeowners. NHBC is an independent non-profit distributing company, reinvesting all resources in further research and work to improve the construction standard of new UK houses for the benefit of homeowners.
The average price of NHBC-registered new houses reached a new peak in 2024-25, with an annual price of £267,900, an increase of just over 8% on 2023-24. (Note that the monetary amounts for individual years have not been adjusted to account for inflation.)
The number of NHBC new house sales recorded for 2024-25 was 1,111, an increase of just over 3% from the previous year (1,078).
The trend in NHBC new house sales over the last 20 years shows a peak of 7,005 sales in 2004-05, followed by a decline to 1,142 sales in 2013-14. From 2014-15 until 2018-19, the general trend in the number of sales reversed slightly, reaching 1,613 in 2018-19. However, from 2019-20 until 2023-24, the number of new house sales generally decreased again, with 1,078 sales in 2023-24.
First time buyers: Lending and affordability
The mean age of first-time buyers in 2024 was 32 years, showing a very gradual increase since 2010 (29 years). The mean income for first-time buyers in 2024 was £49,726.
The number of loans granted to first time buyers rose year-on-year, from 2,900 in 2008 to 10,800 in 2019. However, these numbers have fluctuated since. In 2024, 8,700 loans were granted to first time buyers, an increase of 6% from 2023 (8,200).
During the same period, the mean percentage advance for first-time buyers generally increased from 70% (2008) to 78% (2024), with a small amount of fluctuation in the intervening years.
The mean capital and interest payments as a percentage of income for first time buyers was 28.9% in 2008. This percentage for first-time buyers had generally fallen over the years to 2020 (15%) but has risen again the last four years to 19.1% in 2024.
Co-ownership
Co-Ownership provides help for individuals who wish to buy their own home but who cannot do so without help. A share of the property is bought and the remainder is rented from Co-Ownership. There is a cap on the value of the property that can be purchased which previously sat at £195,000 but as of 1 April 2025 the value limit was increased to £210,000.
A total of 891 applications for Co-ownership were completed in 2024-25. This was an increase of 10.4% from the previous year (807).
There was an increase of £4.3 million in Capital expenditure from £30.8 million in 2023-24 to £35.1 million in 2024-25.
Currently, 10,844 homes are owned through the scheme which is an increase of 321 (3%) from 2023-24.
In 2024-25, the median price of properties purchased through the scheme was £160,000.
Section 6: Household characteristics
This section provides information relating to a range of household characteristics. Detailed data on household projections, household type, tenure and household income and expenditure can be found in the accompanying tables.
Household income and housing costs by tenure
Results from the 2023-24 Family Resources Survey show that households buying with a mortgage had the highest estimated average weekly household income of £1,381, followed by those who owned outright (£854) and private renters (£795). The social rented sector had the lowest estimated average weekly income of £544.
Households with the highest housing costs were in the private rented sector, at £131 per week. This compares to estimates of £98 in the social rented sector and £65 for those buying with a mortgage.
In 2023-24, 7% of households in Northern Ireland had housing costs which were more than 30% of their weekly household income. This proportion increases to 12% if they do not fully own their own house.
Satisfaction with home, 2024-25
Overall, 91% of adults were satisfied with their home (house/apartment or flat). Adults living in the least deprived areas were more likely to be satisfied with their home (95%) than those living in more deprived areas (85%). In addition, adults without a disability were more likely to be satisfied with their home (93%) than adults who have a disability (87%).
When asked about the condition of their accommodation, 86% of households felt it was good with 3% stating it was poor. More than nine in every ten households (94%) felt their accommodation met their current needs, however this figure decreased to seven in ten (70%) when asked if the accommodation would continue to meet their needs in the longer term.
Estimated weekly household expenditure
Note: For a full list of what ‘average spend’ encompasses, refer to Table 6.7 and Appendix - Section six.
- In 2022-24, the average spend in Northern Ireland was £549.70, 4.7% lower than the UK average spend (£576.10).
Average rates bill 2024-25
Map based on DoF data and developed by Analytics Division, DfC. Crown Copyright and database rights MOU209.
Average Rates Bill by LGD 2024-25
Rates are a property tax based on the valuation of homes in Northern Ireland. The income from rates provides funding for services at both local (council) and regional (NI Assembly) levels.
In 2024-25 the average rates bill was £1,180.
The highest average bill payable was in Newry, Mourne and Down (£1,334) and the lowest was in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (£1,047).
Notes
Symbols and conventions
The following symbols are used throughout the publication:
.. Not available
-: None
** Negligible
P Provisional
R Revised
N/A Not applicable
1. Changes for this release
Table 6.13 ‘General condition of accommodation’, Table 6.14 ‘Accommodation meets current needs’ and Table 6.15 ‘As you get older do you think your current accommodation will continue to meet your needs in the longer term?’ are additional tables that report results from the Continuous Household Survey. Each table provides a breakdown by gender, age, religious background, marital status, disability, dependants, level of deprivation, and whether you live in a urban or rural environment.
2. Previous release changes
Due to a change in data collection methodology the information provided to Analytics Division by DfC Housing Regulation and Inspection Branch, for the purpose of producing Table 3.3b, can no longer be analysed to produce figures for average weekly rent and annual collectible rent which are comparable to those published up to and including the year 2015-16. These figures have therefore been included in the report as a historical table, to which further updates have been discontinued.
Table 3.3c ‘Housing Associations: Average weekly rent’ is a new series of the data provided to AD by DfC Housing Regulation Branch. Housing Regulation Branch within the Department for Communities (DfC) collects information on social housing stock owned by housing associations registered with DfC. This information is used to produce Table 3.3c (and previously 3.3a and 3.3b).
Table 3.12 ‘Households accepted as homeless by household type’: An additional table reporting on all households accepted as homeless in Northern Ireland between 2018-19 and 2021-22, by household type, is included. Data are recorded by the Housing Executive in its Housing Management System (HMS).
Table 6.7, ‘Difference from bedroom standard by tenure’ has been discontinued as the data provider no longer uses the software (SIRXS) previously used to derive the variable ‘difference from bedroom standard’ for different tenures, and as such can no longer provide these figures.
Table 6.7 (previously 6.8), ‘Average gross weekly household income and expenditure by UK region, financial year ending March 2016 to financial year ending March 2018’ has been published with the following footnote to reflect a change in methodology in the calculation of the variable ‘average gross weekly household income’: ‘Figures for ’average gross weekly household income’ are not directly comparable to data published within this report in previous years. This is due to a change in methodology. Data for the financial year ending 2018 are based on person-level analysis, while years previous are based on household-level’. Furthermore, income data can no longer be provided as the Living Costs and Food Survey can no longer produce income estimates data to international standards.
Table 6.7 and 6.8 (previously Tables 6.8 and 6.9): In addition, the following footnote, identifying an error in the Living Cost and Food (LCF) Survey, has also been added to Tables 6.7 and 6.8: An error has been identified in the Living Cost and Food (LCF) Survey which has been found to impact the Family spending in the UK: April 2017 to March 2018 release. This affects, to a small degree, most estimates of average expenditure. The overall impact is that average weekly household expenditure in the UK is underestimated by around 0.5%, while the interpretation of the statistics remains the same.
Table 6.13 (previously 6.12) ‘Satisfaction with house/apartment/flat’ is an additional table which reports the results from the Continuous Household Survey. It reports on satisfaction with house/apartment/flat based on gender, age, religious background, marital status, disability, dependants, level of deprivation, and whether you live in a urban or rural environment.
Table 6.12 ‘Percentage of Households where Weekly Housing Costs Account for 30% or More of Weekly Household Income’ is an additional table with new statistics that provides information from the Family Resources Survey (FRS).
3. User engagement
Northern Ireland Housing Statistics:
User feedback is welcome so we would like to encourage your participation in our user engagement survey, and thank you in advance.
4. Accredited Official Statistics
Accredited Official Statistics are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) and confirmed to comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Producers of accredited official statistics are legally required to ensure they maintain compliance with the Code. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed in 2012 as part of the assessment of Statistics on Housing and Benefits in Northern Ireland, with accreditation confirmed in July 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice and should be labelled National Statistics (or ‘accredited official statistics’). In February 2019, a compliance check confirmed that the designation (or accredited official statistics labelling) should continue.
Our statistical practice is regulated by OSR. They set the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Since the latest review by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the following improvements have been made in order to continue to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics:
Accessibility: Accessibility has been enhanced through additional signposting, clear labelling of appendices and provision hyperlinks to supporting information. Data has also been made available in Open Source format.
QAAD: In order to introduce greater clarification within the associated Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) document, AD have thoroughly reviewed processes behind data acquisition and subsequent data publication. This has resulted in the inclusion of additional detail, rationale and examples, in regard to data provision, checking and validation; ultimately allowing for better justification of assurance levels.
It is the Department for Communities’ responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected of Accredited Official Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. Accredited Official Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.
Social Housing Development Programme 2024-25
The Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP), managed by NIHE, provides grant funding to housing associations so that they can build or acquire new social housing.
Since 2010-11, 21,410 social houses have been completed through this scheme. Of these, 97.5% were self-contained and 2.5% were shared.
In 2024-25, there were 1,504 SHDP starts, a 0.3% decrease from 2023-24 (1,508).
In the same period, there were 1,410 SHDP completions, a 0.5% increase on 2023-24 (1,403).