News Release Page Title

3 October 2000

STATISTICAL PRESS RELEASE

Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin

The Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin, containing statistics for the quarter from 1 April to 30 June 2000, has been published by the Department of Social Development.

Its key findings include:

- the average price of NHBC-registered new houses sold was £83,000, 8% (£6,000) higher than the previous quarter and a rise of £9,000 (12%) on the same period last year.

- 441 actions for mortgage possession were recorded, a decrease of 36 (8%) on the last quarter, and a drop of 82 (16%) on the same quarter in 1999.

- 98% (2,732) of new dwellings started in this quarter were commissioned for the private sector, an increase of 129 (5%) on the corresponding quarter in 1999 and a rise of 89 (3%) on the quarter January- March 2000

- the average intended selling price of NHBC-registered semi-detached properties was £66,000, an increase of £2,000 (3%) on the previous quarter and rise of £9,000 (10%) on the same quarter in 1999

- 98% (2,732) of new dwellings started were commissioned for the private sector, the total number of new dwellings started is down 801 (22%) on the previous quarter and up 92 (3%) on the same quarter in 1999.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin is produced each quarter by the Statistics and Research Branch of the Department for Social Development. 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)
  2. Data for new house sales and price 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 mortgage activity, by all banks and building societies which are members of the CML
  4. Details of all new housing starts for the private sector are supplied by the Building Control Offices for each of the 26 district council areas. Data for the social rented sector are provided by NIHE and the Housing Associations Branch of the Department for Social Development
  5. For the purposes of this bulletin, the terms 'house' and 'dwelling' are interchangeable and can be defined as 'a self-contained unit of accommodation, having all amenities available to each household (own kitchen, bathroom, toilet) regardless of shared entrance). A 'house' or 'dwelling' will, therefore, comprise 'either one self-contained household space or a number of non self-contained household spaces'.
  6. Hard copies of the bulletin are available free of charge from the Statistics and Research Branch, Department for Social Development, Room 1, Annex 1,

Castle Buildings, Stormont, BELFAST BT4 3UD

Telephone (028) 9052 2762

E-mail srb@dsdni.gov.uk

7. The next edition of the Bulletin will be published in late December 2000