News Release Page Title

27 June 2000

NORTHERN IRELAND HOUSING BULLETIN

The Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin, containing statistics for the period 1 January to 31 March 2000, was published today.

During the three months ending 31 March 2000:

  • The average price of NHBC-registered new houses sold was £75,000, a rise of £1,000 (1%) on the previous quarter and £4,000 (6%) on the figure for the same period last year.
  • A total of 477 actions for mortgage possession were recorded, up 138 (41%) on the last quarter, but a decline of 75 (14%) on the same quarter in 1999.
  • Gross mortgage advances amounted to £366 million, down £119 million (25%) on the previous quarter and £15 million (4%) less than the figure for the period January to March 1999.
  • The average selling price of NHBC-registered detached houses was £103,000, an increase of £9,000 (10%) on the figure for October to December 1999, and up £8,000 (8%) on the corresponding quarter in 1999.
  • This is the first quarter in which NHBC-registered detached houses have sold for more than £100,000 on average.
  • 85% (2,480) of new dwellings started were commissioned for the private sector, up 275 (12%) on the previous quarter and a rise of 380 (18%) on the same quarter in 1999.
  • The number of new dwellings started by Housing Associations (445) experienced an increase of 140 (46%) on the quarter ending 31 December 1999, but declined by 590 (57%) on the figure for the corresponding quarter in 1999.

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
  1. The Statistics and Research Branch of the Department for Social Development produce the Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin each quarter. The Bulletin contains information on new house sales and prices, mortgage advances, actions for mortgage possession and new housing starts. Provisional and revised figures are indicated by (P) and (R) respectively.
  2. Data for new house sales and prices are derived from transactions for new private sector and Housing Associations dwellings notified by solicitors to the National House Building Council (NHBC).
  3. Mortgage lending statistics are supplied by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The data refer to gross advances, including remortgage activity, by all banks and building societies which are members of the CML.
  4. The Northern Ireland Court Service produces statistics on actions for mortgage possession (writs and originating summonses). The figures cover both the public and private sectors and relate to both domestic and commercial properties.
  5. The Building Control Offices supply details of all new housing starts for the private sector for each of the 26 district council areas. NIHE and the Housing Associations Branch of the Department for Social Development provide data for the social rented sector.
  6. The CSRB (DRD) web site: www.doeni.gov.uk/statistics/doestats/.contains PDF versions of this and other recent Bulletins, downloadable tables as well as key facts from Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 1998-99. The PDF version of the Bulletin can also be issued by E-mail csrb@doeni.gov.uk>

  7. Hard copies of the Bulletin are available free of charge from:

    8. Statistics and Research Branch, Department for Social Development, Room 1, Annex 1, Castle Buildings, Stormont, BELFAST BT4 3UD.

    Telephone (028) 9052 2061/2762

    E-mail: ann.trew@dsdni.gov.uk

  8. The next edition of the Bulletin will be published in late September 2000.