New statistics show continuing housing crisis, CIH Northern Ireland warns

The latest Northern Ireland Housing Statistics 2024–25 reveal that, while progress is being made on some fronts, the fundamental challenges in housing are deepening. While increases in new homes and a decrease in homelessness are welcome, the continued rise in waiting lists and housing stress shows a system under pressure.

Key findings from the bulletin highlight this precarious situation:

• Social housing waiting list increases: The social housing waiting list grew to 49,083 households, a four-per-cent increase; this continues a worrying upward trend, with more people than ever in desperate need of a stable home
• Housing stress worsens: The number of households experiencing housing stress has increased by six per cent to 37,635, a clear reflection of the growing struggle many face
• Social housing starts meet target, but fall short of need: A total of 1,504 new social homes were started in 2024–25, meeting the annual target; however, this target itself is far short of the more than 2,200 homes needed annually to meet demand, and the gap means more people will continue to wait for a place to call home
• Overall housing starts and completions rise: The number of new homes started and completed across all tenures rose to 6,125, up from 5,411 the previous year, showing positive movement in the broader market
• Homelessness drops: The number of households accepted as homeless fell by six per cent to 10,855, demonstrating the dedicated work being done in support and prevention services.

‘Not an unsolvable problem’

Commenting on the statistics, 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.”

He added: "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."

• For more information, please contact CIH Northern Ireland national director Justin Cartwright at justin.cartwright@cih.org