CAIN Web Service
Background Information on Northern Ireland Society - Housing
[CAIN_Home]
[Key_Events]
[KEY_ISSUES]
[Conflict_Background]
NI SOCIETY:
[Agriculture]
[Art_&_Literature]
[Culture]
[Economy]
[Education]
[Employment]
[Geography]
[Health_&_Social_Security]
[History]
[Housing]
[Income]
[Law_&_Order]
[Media]
[Politics]
[Population]
[Religion]
[Security]
[Tourism] [Transportation]
HOUSING: [Menu]
[Reading]
[Summary]
[Chronology]
[Background]
[Main Pages]
[Statistics]
[Sources]
Text and Research: Fionnuala
McKenna
Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change
Housing
- The issue of public housing played a key role in the Northern
Ireland Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. Public housing at
this stage was mainly allocated by the local councils, and there
was much evidence of discrimination in housing allocation against
members of the Catholic community.
- Public housing in Northern Ireland today is provided by the
Northern Ireland Housing Executive. This body was established
in May 1971, and was intended to (a) improve the delivery of housing
functions, (b) improve house conditions and (c) meet housing need.
Its creation was also an attempt to take housing decisions out
of the political arena and place them in the hands of a more neutral
professional organisation.
- In the early 1970's, much of the housing provision in Northern
Ireland was inadequate. In 1971, only 63 percent of Catholic homes
in Northern Ireland had hot water, a fixed bath or shower, and
an inside WC, as opposed to 72 percent of Protestant homes. This
gap has however been eradicated over the past 25 years, with almost
all homes in Northern Ireland (98 percent), both Catholic and
Protestant being furnished with these facilities.
- Since 1971, the Government has invested over £9,000 million
in public housing in Northern Ireland.
- 27 percent of people in Northern Ireland are currently living
in public housing, provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
(NIHE). In 1995, the total number of people on the waiting list
for Housing Executive accommodation was 23,355. Of this number,
11,196 were classed as urgent. These figures have changed very
little over the past number of years. In 1985, the total number
of people on the waiting list stood at 24,468.
- The annual rate of increase in the number of dwellings in
Northern Ireland is one of the highest in the UK for both private
and public sector.
- Individuals in Northern Ireland have traditionally spent,
and continue to spend less per year on housing than anywhere else
in the UK.
- Over the past six years, Northern Ireland has experienced
a 61 percent increase in house prices, compared with a nine percent
increase in house prices in the U.K.
- In 1996, the average price of all houses in Northern Ireland
exceeded £50,000. This is the highest figure to date, and
it continues to rise. Meanwhile, the average price of a new house
in Northern Ireland rose from £41,000 in 1989 to £61,000
in 1996.
- Some 400,000 people in Northern Ireland now own, or are in
the process of buying their own homes. This accounts for approximately
68 percent of all tenure groups, and represents an increase of
14 percent since 1981.
Sources:
The following tables provide further details regarding housing
in Northern Ireland. Much of this material has
been taken from the Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics
(1996), Regional Trends (1996), Martin Melaugh (1994) The Majority Minority
Review 3: Housing and Religion in Northern Ireland and the Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts (1997).
Additional information can be obtained from the section on Key Issues - Housing in Northern Ireland and Discrimination and Housing in Northern Ireland.
New House Building in Northern Ireland 1950-90 (by sector)
Housing Tenure in Northern Ireland, by Religion, 1971-1991
Percentage of Households and Dwelling Size by Religion, 1971-1991
Percentage of Households in Northern Ireland Without Exclusive use of
Specified Amenities and Services, by Religion, 1971-1991
Housing Tenure in Northern Ireland, 1995: A comparison of
Northern Ireland and Britain
Accommodation by Household Type in Northern Ireland, 1996
New Permanent Housing in Northern Ireland: Completions, 1986-1996
Average Price of New Private Sector houses at Sale in Northern Ireland
(1989-1996)
Average Price of Existing Private Sector Houses at Sale in Northern Ireland
Accommodation in Northern Ireland, by Tenure, 1994/1995
Total Northern Ireland Housing Stock, 1981-1995; A Comparison with
England, Scotland and Wales
New House Building in Northern Ireland by sector, 1950-90
| Year | Total No.
Houses
| Local Authorities |
NIHT1 | Other Public
| Private |
| 1950 | 7359
| 2788 | 1459
| 199 | 2902
|
| 1955 | 7028
| 2223 | 1998
| 171 | 2636
|
| 1960 | 6437
| 2226 | 1252
| 183 | 2776
|
| 1965 | 8937
| 2789 | 2560
| 225 | 3363
|
| 1970 | 11834
| 4734 | 2958
| 104 | 4038
|
| . |
| Year | Total
| NIHE2 |
Housing Association
| Private |
| 1975 | 8919
| 4885 | 55
| 3776 |
| 1980 | 6456
| 2507 | 325
| 3568 |
| 1985 | 10801
| 3233 | 626
| 6940 |
| 1990 | 7919
| 1299 | 457
| 6163 |
(Source: Melaugh, M. Majority Minority Review 3: Housing and Religion
in Northern Ireland, 1994)
Note:
1 Northern Ireland Housing Trust
2 Northern Ireland Housing Executive (est. 1971)
Housing Tenure in Northern Ireland, by Religion, (1971-1991)
| . | .
| Protestant | Catholic
| Total |
| . | Tenure
| (%) | (%)
| (%) |
| 1971 | Owner Occupied
| 46.8 | 42.3
| 45.7 |
| . | Rented Public
| 32.2 | 40.9
| 34.6 |
| . | Rented Private
| 20.5 | 16.1
| 19.1 |
| . | Not classed/other
| 0.5 | 0.7
| 0.6 |
| | |
| |
| 1983-84 | Owner-occupied
| 56 | 49
| 54 |
| . | Rented NIHE
| 34 | 44
| 37 |
| . | Rented Private
| 8 | 6
| 7 |
| . | Rent free
| 2 | 1
| 1 |
|
| 1985-86 | Owner-occupied
| 58 | 49
| 57 |
| . | Rented NIHE
| 33 | 44
| 36 |
| . | Rented Private
| 7 | 6
| 6 |
| . | Rent free
| 2 | 1
| 1 |
| | |
| |
| 1988-91 | Owner-occupied
| 63 | 55
| 61 |
| . | Rented NIHE
| 29 | 37
| 31 |
| . | Rented Private
| 7 | 6
| 7 |
| . | Rent free
| 1 | 1
| 1 |
(Source: Melaugh, M. Majority Minority Review 3: Housing
and Religion in Northern Ireland, 1994)
Percentage of Households and Dwelling Size by Religion, 1971-1991
| Year | Number
of rooms
| Total population (%)
| Catholic
(%) |
Protestant
(%) |
Not stated
(%) |
| 1971 | 1,2
| 4.1 | 6.9
| 2.8 | 5.3
|
| . | 3
| 9.4 | 13.7
| 7.5 | 10.8
|
| . | 4
| 23.7 | 24.9
| 23.3 | 22.8
|
| . | 5
| 29.7 | 29.2
| 30.0 | 29.4
|
| . | 6
| 21.6 | 16.8
| 23.6 | 21.1
|
| . | 7+
| 11.5 | 8.5
| 12.8 | 10.7
|
|
| 1981 | 1,2
| 3.73 | 5.00
| 3.15 | 3.94
|
| . | 3
| 9.20 | 11.46
| 8.08 | 9.94
|
| . | 4
| 19.20 | 19.38
| 19.13 | 19.20
|
| . | 5
| 32.15 | 31.81
| 31.81 | 33.88
|
| . | 6
| 20.42 | 18.50
| 21.39 | 19.27
|
| . | 7+
| 15.31 | 13.85
| 16.43 | 13.32
|
|
| 1991 | 1,2
| 2.05 | 2.20
| 1.83 | 2.61
|
| . | 3
| 5.20 | 5.30
| 4.98 | 5.95
|
| . | 4
| 14.48 | 13.30
| 15.01 | 15.30
|
| . | 5
| 33.62 | 36.24
| 32.11 | 33.37
|
| . | 6
| 24.37 | 23.79
| 24.84 | 23.72
|
| . | 7+
| 20.29 | 19.17
| 21.22 | 19.06
|
(Source: Melaugh, M. Majority Minority Review 3: Housing and Religion
in Northern Ireland, 1994)
Percentage of Households Without Exclusive use of Specified
Amenities and Services, by Religion, 1971-1991
| . | .
| Catholic
(%)
| Protestant
(%)
| Not Stated/None
(%)
| Total Population
(%)
|
| 1971:
| With fixed bath or shower
| 65.2
| 74.3
| 73.0
| 71.8
|
| . | With inside toilet
| 66.7
| 74.0
| 73.6
| 72.1
|
| . | With hot water supply
| 70.7
| 80.9
| 78.1
| 78.0
|
| . | With hot water, fixed bath and inside WC
| 63.6
| 72.0
| 71.1
| 69.7
|
|
| 1981:
| With fixed bath or shower
| 89.4
| 90.7
| 90.6
| 90.4
|
| . | With inside toilet
| 90.6
| 91.2
| 91.4
| 91.1
|
| . | Connected to public water supply
| 94.6
| 96.8
| 96.0
| 96.1
|
| . | Connected to public sewer
| 78.9
| 83.3
| 82.9
| 82.2
|
|
| 1991:
| With fixed bath or shower
| 97.7
| 98.1
| 98.1
| 98.0
|
| . | With inside toilet
| 98.2
| 98.4
| 98.5
| 98.4
|
| . | Connected to public water supply
| 98.3
| 98.8
| 99.1
| 98.6
|
| . | Connected to public sewer
| 79.4
| 83.2
| 86.9
| 82.4
|
| . | With central heating
| 73.7
| 71.8
| 71.5
| 72.4
|
(Source: Melaugh, M. Majority Minority Review 3: Housing and Religion
in Northern Ireland, 1994)
Housing Tenure 1990-1995: A comparison of Northern Ireland
and Britain
(Percentage)
| . | Northern Ireland
| | Britain
|
| . | 1990/
91
| 1991/
92 | 1992/
93
| 1993/
94 | 1994/
95
| | 1989
| 1990 | 1991
| 1992 | 1993
|
| Owned Outright | 30
| 27 | 28
| 31 | 29
| | 24 | 25
| 25 | 25
| 26 |
| Owned with Mortgage | 33
| 35 | 36
| 33 | 34
| | 42 | 41
| 42 | 42
| 41 |
| Rented Local Authority (NIHE) | 29
| 31 | 28
| 28 | 28
| | 24 | 24
| 24 | 21
| 22 |
| Rented Other | 6
| 7 | 7
| 7 | 8
| | 10 | 11
| 10 | 12
| 12 |
| Rent Free | 1
| 1 | 1
| 1 | 1
| | - | -
| - | -
| - |
| Sample Base (households) | 3,163
| 3,106 | 3,091
| 3,176 | 3,220
| | 10,085 |
9,578 | 9,922
| 9,987 | 9,823
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics,
1996)
Accommodation by Household Type in Northern Ireland, 1996
(Percentage)
Household Type | Detached
House
| Semi-
detached
House
| Terraced
House
| Purpose-
built flat/
maisonette
| Converted flat or maisonette/ rooms
| With business premises/ Other
|
| One adult (aged 16-59) | 15
| 22 | 36
| 20 | 6
| 2 |
| Two adults (aged 16-59) | 30
| 28 | 33
| 6 | 3
| 1 |
| Small family | 29
| 27 | 40
| 3 | -
| 1 |
| Large family | 36
| 24 | 39
| - | -
| 1 |
| | |
| | | |
| Two adults, one or both aged >60
| 31 | 22
| 37 | 5
| 1 | 3
|
| One adult aged >60 | 17
| 20 | 42
| 17 | 1
| 4 |
| | |
| | | |
| All Household Types | 29
| 24 | 37
| 7 | 1
| 2 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics,
1996)
New Permanent Housing in Northern Ireland, by sector: Completions,
1986-1996
| . | 1986
| 1987
| 1988
| 1989
| 1990
| 1991
| 1992
| 1993
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
|
| NIHE | 2,580
| 1,764 | 1,712
| 1,708 | 1,299
| 953 | 1,049
| 810 | 900
| 994 | 1,015
|
Housing
Association | 535
| 580 | 705
| 664 | 448
| 759 | 702
| 663 | 555
| 810 | 833
|
Other Public
Agencies | -
| - | 3
| - | 15
| 2 | 51
| 18 | 0
| - | -
|
Private
Enterprise | 7,082
| 7,451 | 7,511
| 7,911 | 6,163
| 5,164 | 5,913
| 5,707 | 5,522
| 7,975 | 8,250
|
Total
Completions | 10,197
| 9,795 | 9,931
| 10,283 | 7,925
| 6,878 | 7,725
| 7,198 | 6,977
| 9,779 | 10,098
|
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics,
1996 and Northern Ireland Housing and Construction Bulletin, 1997)
Average Price of New Private Sector houses at Sale, 1989-1996
| . | 1989
(£ 000)
| 1990
(£ 000)
| 1991
(£ 000)
| 1992
(£ 000)
| 1993
(£ 000)
| 1994
(£ 000)
| 1995
(£ 000)
| 1996
(£ 000)
|
| Q1 | 39
| 43 | 47
| 51 | 49
| 58 | 59
| 62 |
| Q2 | 41
| 46 | 48
| 53 | 54
| 56 | 61
| 64 |
| Q3 | 41
| 46 | 49
| 53 | 55
| 57 | 62
| 64 |
| Q4 | 42
| 45 | 51
| 52 | 54
| 56 | 61
| 63 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996)
Average Price of Existing Private Sector Houses at Sale (£),
1990-1996
| . | Small terrace
| Medium and
large terrace
| Semi-detached house/bungalow
| Detached bungalow | Detached house
| All houses |
| 1990: Q1 | 14,835
| 25,650 | 28,392
| 43,099 | 54,962
| 30,298 |
| ......... Q2 |
15,682 | 25,226
| 29,527 | 43,686
| 53,222 | 31,324
|
| ......... Q3 |
17,109 | 23,948
| 30,468 | 45,226
| 58,720 | 33,366
|
| ......... Q4 |
15,889 | 25,930
| 30,006 | 44,864
| 50,617 | 31,868
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1991: Q1 | 15,968
| 24,647 | 32,046
| 49,995 | 61,740
| 35,124 |
| ......... Q2 |
16,683 | 26,821
| 30,748 | 45,724
| 54,679 | 32,766
|
| ......... Q3 |
16,018 | 26,890
| 31,360 | 45,400
| 56,455 | 33,836
|
| ..........Q4 |
13,824 | 28,286
| 29,889 | 46,091
| 52,997 | 34,165
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1992: Q1 | -
| - | -
| - | -
| 34,294 |
| ..........Q2 |
- | -
| - | -
| - | 35,027
|
| ..........Q3 |
- | -
| - | -
| - | 37,222
|
| ..........Q4 |
- | -
| - | -
| - | 33,114
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1993: Q1 | 19,152
| 26,596 | 32,046
| 49,995 | 61,740
| 35,124 |
| ......... Q2 |
20,333 | 25,185
| 33,131 | 50,552
| 64,972 | 36,090
|
| ......... Q3 |
21,146 | 29,077
| 34,714 | 51,574
| 69,372 | 40,760
|
| ..........Q4 |
19,959 | 25,884
| 34,764 | 52,759
| 68,748 | 38,902
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1994: Q1 | 18,575
| 26,463 | 35,634
| 52,801 | 65,296
| 38,857 |
| ......... Q2 |
20,477 | 27,886
| 36,284 | 55,721
| 68,038 | 40,219
|
| ......... Q3 |
20,644 | 32,846
| 37,934 | 56,947
| 74,152 | 43,070
|
| ..........Q4 |
20,604 | 28,895
| 38,273 | 58,668
| 72,558 | 42,652
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1995: Q1 | 21,952
| 31,503 | 41,393
| 63,384 | 74,970
| 42,810 |
| ..........Q2 |
21,418 | 31,241
| 39,642 | 62,017
| 76,509 | 46,125
|
| ..........Q3 |
22,196 | 32,552
| 40,858 | 63,983
| 82,714 | 45,592
|
| ..........Q4 |
22,612 | 32,696
| 42,695 | 61,390
| 78,477 | 45,271
|
| | |
| | | |
| 1996: Q1 | 21,952
| 31,503 | 41,393
| 63,384 | 74,970
| 42,810 |
| ......... Q2 |
25,081 | 36,497
| 44,511 | 65,459
| 83,398 | 46,983
|
| ..........Q3 |
25,192 | 38,779
| 47,522 | 69,098
| 87,139 | 48,666
|
| ..........Q4 |
26,657 | 37,134
| 46,885 | 67,894
| 87,514 | 50,5318
|
Note: Breakdown by type is not available for 1992.
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996,
and Northern Ireland Housing and Construction Bulletins, 1995
and 1996)
Accommodation in Northern Ireland, by House Type, 1994/1995
(Percentage)
Tenure | Detached
House
| Semi-
detached
House
| Terraced
House
| Purpose-built flat/
maisonette
| Converted flat or maisonette/ rooms
| With
business
premises/
Other
|
| Owner occupied, owned outright | 47
| 24 | 24
| 1 | -
| 4 |
| Owner occupied, with mortgage | 39
| 36 | 23
| 1 | -
| 1 |
| Rented - NIHE | 1
| 12 | 70
| 16 | -
| 1 |
| Rented - other | 15
| 13 | 39
| 17 | 13
| 4 |
| | |
| | | |
| All Tenures | 29
| 24 | 37
| 7 | 1
| 2 |
(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics,
1996)
Total Housing Stock in Northern Ireland, 1981 - 1994; A comparison
with England, Scotland and Wales
| . | 1981
(000,s)
| 1986
(000,s) | 1991
(000,s)
| 1992
(000,s) | 1993
(000,s)
| 1994
(000,s) | % increase 1981-1994
| Rates per 1,000 population 1994 |
| Northern Ireland |
502
|
540 |
573
|
580 |
590
|
600 |
19.5
|
366 |
| England | 18,025
| 18,883 | 19,788
| 19,927 | 20,070
| 20,219 | 12.2
| 425 |
| Scotland | 1,970
| 2,050 | 2,160
| 2,175 | 2,193
| 2,210 | 12.2
| 431 |
| Wales | 1,089
| 1,128 | 1,191
| 1,201 | 1,210
| 1,219 | 11.9
| 418 |
(Source: Office for National Statistics, Regional Trends,
1996)
|
