Our most recently completed and published research

Updated: 23 May 2012
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We have recently carried out a lot of research into the private rental market
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Click on the links below to view or download the research documents:

2011 House Condition Survey Preliminary Findings

This paper presents preliminary findings from the 2011 House Condition Survey. The 2011 Survey was completed using mobile field computers. This technology was first employed for the 2009 HCS and was reviewed and enhanced for 2011. Benefits achieved by moving to the e-form include administrative efficiencies in the collection of data, an improvement in data quality and a faster turn-around of survey results. Key stock findings are presented here four months after the fieldwork was completed.

Performance of the Private Rental Market, Belfast Metropolitan Area July-December 2011

The main findings of this report into the private rental market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area for the second half of 2011 indicate the sector is continuing to expand. In particular, the analysis shows a significant growth in the number of new properties let relative to the first half of 2011 and indeed since this survey began in 2007. Rental levels, on average, are higher for the year as a whole, but tend to be lower during the second half of 2011. Overall, the combination of the increased volume of activity and higher rental levels confirms the more important role of the private rental sector in the housing market in the BMA. It has increasingly become in many respects the tenure of choice by those who have delayed house purchase or lacked the finance to access the owner-occupied sector.

Performance of the private rental market Belfast Metropolitan Area January-June 2011

The main findings of this report into the private rental market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area for the first half of 2011 indicate a market sector that is expanding. This is evidenced by the growth in the number of new properties let relative to the first half of 2010 and only modest decline in the total number of lettings secured compared to the second half of 2010, normally the more active stage of the year. Rental levels, on average, have also increased with certain variation, though not at unsustainable levels. The combination of increased volume and activity and growing rental levels confirms the increasingly important role of the private sector in the housing market in the BMA, at a time when there is still considerable uncertainty in the owner-occupied market.

Housing Community Network and community involvement opportunities research report 2010

The Housing Community Network (HCN) is a framework providing opportunities for community involvement. Since its formation the HCN has been developed with financial support from the Department for Social Development (DSD) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). It is supported, via a Service Level Agreement, by Supporting Communities Northern Ireland (SCNI), (formerly know as the Northern Ireland Tenants Action Project (NITAP)).
In 2008 the NIHE commissioned research on the Housing Community Network (HCN). The underlying rationale for the HCN research was to evaluate community involvement opportunities and to establish a baseline for the level, depth and impact of its activities. A key recommendation was to review the development of social capital in the HCN every two years. The present research is the result of this key recommendation.

Performance of the private rental market Belfast Metropolitan Area July-December 2010

This report focuses on the performance of the private rental market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area during the second half (July to December) of 2010. The investigation is part of an ongoing research partnership between the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), PropertyNews. com and the Centre for Research on Property and Planning at the University of Ulster. The report analyses half yearly trends in the private rental sector.

Sustainable Homes Report

This report provides findings from a discrete piece of research commissioned by the NIHE inNovember 2009. This one year research project surveyed potential end users of housing designed tomeet the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) targets, as well as those tasked with designing them, to develop an understanding of what both sides perceive to be a ‘sustainable home’. The intention of the research was to identify the challenges and opportunities faced when meeting the targets forsustainable homes.

Forthspring Inter Community Group - Towards a Shared Neighbourhood

The focus of this community survey is the interface situated on the borderline between the two communities of the predominately Catholic Springfield Road and the predominately Protestant Woodvale Road in Belfast. This survey was integral to the partnership between Forthspring Inter Community Group and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Shared Neighbourhood Programme.

Analysis of the future need and demand for appropriate models of accommodation and associated services for older people

An analysis of demographic and policy trends to support informed decision making regarding future housing need assessment for older people; collation of information on the existing supply of accommodation for elderly people in relation to the distribution of the elderly population; and a ten-year projection, from 2006 to 2016, of the future housing needs of older people across a mix of tenures, for Northern Ireland overall and, on a more localised level, based on the proposed new local government districts.

Performance of the private rental market Belfast Metropolitan Area January - June 2010

This report focuses on the performance of the private rental market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area during the first half (January to June) of 2010. The investigation is part of an ongoing research partnership between the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), PropertyNews.com and the Centre for Research on Property and Planning at the University of Ulster.

Barn Halt case study

In May 2009, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in partnership with the Northern Health and Social Services Trust (NHSST) and Fold Housing Association appointed the Social Research Centre (SRC) www.srcentre.co.uk to undertake a case study of Barn Halt Cottages, Carrickfergus.

Equity release assessment

This report outlines the findings of a Scoping Exercise aimed at initially outlining the issues around equity release and assessing the potential for equity release for older owner-occupiers.

Housing need assessment formula

This report presents the findings of a review of our Housing Need Assessment (HNA) formula used to create a "bottom up" estimate of the need for social housing in Northern Ireland.
It was undertaken on our behalf by Dr Tony O'Sullivan, Newhaven Research, a housing research consultant with considerable UK wide experience of housing market analysis.

Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT)

Research into the future housing and support needs of older people.

Housing market areas

This report presents the findings of a study into the structure of Housing Market Areas (HMA) across Northern Ireland. A housing market area is defined as a geographical area where most people both live and work and where most people moving home (without changing job) seek a house.
The study was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in order to provide a suitable spatial framework for subsequent housing analysis and strategy development.

Performance of the private rental market (Belfast Metropolitan Area)

This report provides an update on the private rental market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area during the second half (July – December) of 2009. It indicated a modest rise in the average monthly rent compared with the first half of 2009.

House condition survey

Preliminary findings from the 2009 House condition survey are now available.

Continuous tenant omnibus survey

The 2008 Continuous tenant omnibus survey (CTOS) was the fifteenth comprehensive assessment of the attitudes of Housing Executive tenants to be carried out since 1994.

Carran Crescent - Shared future housing evaluation

The research unit was asked by the Community Cohesion Unit to carry out research regarding the Shared Future Housing Scheme in the Drumcarran area of Enniskillen. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of the shared future housing scheme on the residents of Carran Crescent.

Migrant workers - Dungannon case study

There has been no comprehensive study of the effect of the rapid increase in the number of migrant workers on Northern Ireland’s housing market. This research goes some way to address this issue. Using Dungannon as a case study, it examines the impact that migrant workers have had on the local housing market, provides an insight into their current housing circumstances and gives a preliminary indication of their future housing needs.