Background Information on Northern Ireland Society - Housing

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 theNorthern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics(1996),Regional Trends(1996), Martin Melaugh (1994)The Majority Minority Review 3: Housing and Religion in Northern Irelandand theIrish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts(1997).

Additional information can be obtained from the section on Key Issues -Housing in Northern IrelandandDiscrimination 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

(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)

(Source: Melaugh, M. Majority Minority Review 3: Housing and Religion in Northern Ireland, 1994)

Percentage of Households and Dwelling Size by Religion, 1971-1991

(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

(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)

(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996)

Accommodation by Household Type in Northern Ireland, 1996
(Percentage)

(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996)

New Permanent Housing in Northern Ireland, by sector: Completions, 1986-1996

(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

(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996)

Average Price of Existing Private Sector Houses at Sale (£), 1990-1996

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)

(Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996)

Total Housing Stock in Northern Ireland, 1981 - 1994; A comparison with England, Scotland and Wales

(Source: Office for National Statistics, Regional Trends, 1996)