ONS analysis suggest that rents less affordable since 2020

Statement by Cllr Kate Evans, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, as new analysis by the Office of National Statistics suggests that rents in Northern Ireland have become less affordable since 2020.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the proportion of a typical household's income spent on rent rose from just under 22% in 2020 to 25.3% in 2024, as rents increased faster than wages. An area is considered "affordable" by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) if a private-renting household's rent is 30% or less of its income.

Councillor Evans said:  ‘As MLAs concentrated on no fault evictions they completely missed the issue of arbitrary, and unregulated, private rent increases. In the Republic of Ireland they have legislation capping rent increases in rent pressure zones at 2%. However, in Northern Ireland we see an average 8.3% rental increase, which is equivalent to £50 a month on a £600 a month property. 

If private rent can be capped and if the Department for Communities could create an online rent calculator, we could begin to ease the issue that affects so many people in Northern Ireland who do not own their own home but rely on the private rented sector.’