Inside Housing – News – NIHE launches major survey on state of housing

According to the NIHE, the survey provides the only reliable and consistent source of officially recognized data for measuring government indicators such as household decency, energy poverty, the Home Health and Safety Rating System, and energy efficiency ratings.

Addresses are chosen at random from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency address register.

Beginning in May 2023, surveyors will begin calling households that have been selected to participate. They will conduct a physical inspection and a brief interview.

The NIHE, which manages around 85,000 social housing units in Northern Ireland, uses the information collected as a guide for housing spending priorities for the coming years.

Ursula McAnulty, NIHE’s head of research, said: “Our home conditions survey is incredibly important work. It gives us an in-depth look at the current state of housing in Northern Ireland.

“A cross-section of all types of housing is included in this research project, and professionally trained housing surveyors are taking to the streets to conduct their inspections.

“We have a legal duty to carry out this investigation, and since the first survey of housing conditions, our local housing landscape has been transformed.”

In 1974, one in five houses in Northern Ireland was classified as unfit for habitation. In Belfast, the figure rose to one in four.

Ms McAnulty said: “When the results were published in 2016, ineptitude levels dropped to around 2%, the lowest we have ever recorded.

“We encourage homeowners to take the opportunity to interact with our surveyors as part of the process; Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the condition of your home or its energy efficiency standards.

“If your house has been selected, you will receive a letter in advance informing you of the visit of a surveyor who will have identification for you to verify. It will only take about an hour to complete the survey, so there will be minimal disruption.

“If you have not received a letter or the surveyor cannot provide identification, you must deny entry to anyone trying to enter your property.

“All information is completely confidential – no individual or household will be identified in the final report and a helpline has also been set up to answer any questions you may have.”