Latest statistics from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) indicate that housing issues in Northern Ireland are getting worse
While some improvements are evident in new homes and homelessness rates are decreasing, the overall housing issues in Northern Ireland are outpacing any progress, with the waiting list for social housing growing by 4%.
A surge in the social housing waiting list is a significant warning sign
For 2024-2025, the list grew to 49,083 households, and the number of households in severe housing stress escalated by 6% to 37,635.
Construction of social housing has started, and it has met its target, but CIH warn that the target is still short of requirements. 1,504 new social homes were started in the last year. To meet current demand, 2,200 new homes need to be built every year.
Overall, housing starts and completions show a positive trend, with both rising to 6,125 and 5,411, respectively. Homelessness rates have also dropped by 6% to 10,855, showing current work is effective, but more is still needed.
The housing crisis is not unsolvable
Justin Cartwright, national director of Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland, said: “The quality of our homes is fundamental to our quality of life. The reduction in homelessness and the increase in overall housing starts are positive signs, and we commend the hard work of everyone involved. We are encouraged that we met our target for new social housing starts, but this is a temporary and insufficient solution to a long-term problem.
“The significant and sustained increase in the social housing waiting list and housing stress is a moral responsibility we cannot ignore. It is a sign that our current system is not meeting the basic needs of a growing number of people.
“The housing crisis is not an unsolvable problem. It is a direct result of under-investment in new homes and supporting infrastructure. We must move beyond short-term targets and commit to funding a long-term approach that recognises housing as a foundation for health and wellbeing.
“We urge the NI Executive and relevant departments to review capital funding, streamline planning processes, and invest in vital infrastructure to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland has a safe, affordable and quality home to call their own. This is a problem we can and must fix.”
Learn from top performers
The Institute has recently examined statistics from the Department for Infrastructure related to the construction of housing in Northern Ireland, including:
- Planning applications declined by 5% year-on-year. Residential applications make up two-thirds of all applications, making this decline a key concern in the midst of a housing crisis.
- The average processing time for local applications increased to 19.8 weeks. With the statutory target being 15 weeks. However, times for major applications met the 30-week target and fell by six weeks year-on-year.
- Councils are inconsistent in performance, with just 4 out of the 11 councils meeting the 15-week target for local applications.
Justin Cartwright said: “The latest statistics present a complex, but not insurmountable, set of challenges for our planning system. On the one hand, we are seeing improvements in the processing of major applications. On the other, the persistent decline in applications and the increase in local processing times highlight that while resources are being effectively applied in some areas, there are still significant bottlenecks.
“There is a need to foster a culture of good practice sharing and continuous improvement. The strong results of the top-performing councils demonstrate that efficient and effective planning is achievable. We must work collaboratively to understand the factors driving their success and replicate these models across all local authorities.”
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