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Average weekly market rent data

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Average Weekly Market Rent data

This information relates to average weekly private sector rent levels in Northern Ireland by Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) and size of property.  

The Average Weekly Market Rent data is calculated based on the number of bedrooms in a property and on which of eight Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs) it is located. 

The first version was published in June 2023. 

The Department for Communities has produced a new affordable housing policy which aims to create an additional supply of homes, providing a new affordable “Intermediate Rent” housing option. 

Intermediate Rent is a form of affordable housing which offers rents at 80% of the market rent for a similar property type and size within a locality. 

Read more about:

Intermediate Rent

The Intermediate Rent Policy states that, “an Intermediate Rent landlord should refer to any material published by the Housing Executive on behalf of the Department about market rents.”

Read more about:

Intermediate Rent Policy and Homes for Intermediate Rent Design Standards

The Housing Executive intends to annually publish a report which will provide a summary of average weekly private sector market rents figures to assist with the setting of rents for Intermediate Rent properties.

The information contained within the annual report offers a snapshot of average rents at Broad Rental Market area level and does not reflect actual market rents at every location within that area. 

It is intended to act as a point of reference and is not a definitive indicator of market rental costs at every location.  The information should be used in conjunction with other sources of information and should not be the sole reference point.

Anyone seeking to develop or set rent for Intermediate Rent units should refer to this material and additionally seek confirmation, at time of planning, development and letting, of local average market rents for similar type / size of units from a suitably qualified professional.

More information is available in the section:

How we calculate Average Weekly Market Rent levels 

Map of Northern Ireland showing Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA)

The map above shows the eight Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) in Northern Ireland.

The current (and previous) Average Weekly Market Rent rates are detailed below.

Average Weekly Market Rent from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £156.51
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £179.49
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £204.20
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £273.45
  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £110.11
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £132.63
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £150.17
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £171.76
  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £111.94
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £133.67
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £150.53
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £175.43
  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £133.41
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £137.39
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £154.77
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £166.85
  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £106.05
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £131.26
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £149.24
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £188.66

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £119.46

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £139.10

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £160.22

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £185.94

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £131.21
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £162.91
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £187.55
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £259.72
  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £100.52
  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £117.64
  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £131.18
  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £153.90

Average Weekly Market Rent rates from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £136.76

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £151.44

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £180.97

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £253.69

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £98.69

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £122.15

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £134.34

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £162.15

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £99.17

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £119.89

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £133.32

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £161.35

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £101.02

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £117.92

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £128.79

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £147.35

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £100.33

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £113.05

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £128.87

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £153.63

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £115.90

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £129.40

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £138.88

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £178.06

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £112.99

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £147.27

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £172.15

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £237.89

  • 1 bedroom rent per week: £100.83

  • 2 bedroom rent per week: £110.11

  • 3 bedroom rent per week: £123.91

  • 4 bedroom rent per week: £143.95

How we calculate Average Weekly Market Rents

The Average Weekly Market Rent figures are derived from twelve months’ worth of advertised lettings information, collected by the Housing Executive from 1 October to 30 September in the previous year. 

The primary purpose of collecting this data is to calculate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. These rents exclude any rates, fees or service charges.

In order to calculate the average weekly market rent values, we take the information gathered on the advertised private sector rents of the same size (number of bedrooms) and divide this by the number of properties of that size advertised within the BRMA.  

For example, if there were 50 two bedroom properties available for letting within the South East BRMA, the average market rent would be the sum of all the rents divided by 50.

The weekly average market rent values listed here provide an indication of the average rental value of properties within a BRMA and are intended to act as a guide to assist with setting rent levels for Intermediate Rent homes. 

Intermediate Rent should be set with at least a 20% discount on average local market rents for a similar property type and size within an area. 

BRMAs cover large geographical areas, so some variation in actual markets rents is to be expected within each BRMA based on prevailing local market conditions. 

In line with the Department for Communities’ policy any Intermediate Rent landlord should seek confirmation, at the time of planning, development and letting, of local average market rents for similar type / size of units from a suitably qualified professional (e.g. a RICS certified surveyor). 

You can read the Department for Communities publication:

Intermediate Rent Policy and Homes for Intermediate Rent Design Standards

Evidence should be retained and may be requested by the Department or Councils.