Northern Ireland House Condition Survey update: January 2023
The commencement of the fieldwork for the NI House Condition Survey (NIHCS) is under review due to the ongoing risks to health, and to data quality issues related to Covid-19.
Although restrictions have now eased, Covid-19 continues to have an effect on research, particularly where surveys take place in the homes of participants.
This is the case for the NIHCS, which involves surveyors spending approximately 1 hour in each home in order to complete a technical inspection and a face-to-face interview.
As part of the review we are undertaking a pilot survey of approximately 100 addresses. This will help us to assess the willingness of householders to take part in face-to-face research, and to identify any covid-19 related issues that surveyors or householders may experience.
The findings of the pilot survey will be used when planning for the next NIHCS, which is provisionally planned for spring 2023.
The pilot survey will take place during January and February 2023. Letters will be sent in advance to addresses that have been selected, and surveyors will carry ID. Participation in the survey is voluntary.
If you have any queries please contact the NIHCS team at:
Modelled statistics
Following the postponement of the NIHCS in 2021, we consulted with users to identify requirements for key statistics which could be modelled using data from the 2016 NIHCS.
The statistics requested by users were:
- Fuel poverty indicator: 2019 and 2020
- Energy consumption tables
- Heat loss parameter variable, and factors which influence the heat loss parameter
Fuel poverty indicator: update for users 07/03/22
In order to calculate the fuel poverty estimates, the modelling process uses a series of assumptions based on available data. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the data for 2020 relating to household income, fuel prices, energy efficiency improvements and the change in household make-up (re-grouping or bubbling) were not available through external sources or datasets.
Therefore at this time, it is not possible to produce a robust fuel poverty figure for 2020. We will revisit this at a later date.
The 2019 fuel poverty estimates report was published on 22nd March 2022. Work on the remaining modelling is ongoing. We will provide further updates when publication dates have been announced.
2016 Northern Ireland House Condition Survey (HCS)
The 2016 HCS report, which was published in May 2018, presents a comprehensive overview of Northern Ireland’s dwelling stock and its occupants in 2016, including information about fuel poverty, disrepair, Decent Homes, the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), unfitness, and household profiles.
Between 2016 and 2018 the House Condition Survey was assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and was found to be fully compliant with the principles of the Code of Practice for Statistics. It was awarded National Statistics status in May 2018.
National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value, and comply with all aspects of the Code of Practice for Statistics.
We welcome your feedback on the survey and related data and reports. If you have any comments or queries please contact us on