Average Omagh house prices now £179,000

HOUSE prices in the Omagh district are now nearing an average of £200,000, and increased by 8.3 per-cent over a one-year period, according to latest figures.

The statistics, prepared by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), were presented at a council meeting this week.

But they showed that despite the increase between 2020 and 2021, the cost of living locally is still below the average for the North.

The NIHE report highlighted there were ten re-possessions in 2020 and that the demand for so-called intermediate housing aimed at low income households is estimated at 860 between 2,020 and 2,035. The rents for various housetypes have also been compiled. An apartment will set you back (£105.94) per week, detached (£141.52), semi-detached (£127.12), terrace (115.44) – these are also below the average for the north.

Figures produced by the NIHE show that at March 2022, there were 2,037 applicants on the housing waiting list for the local council area. Single, old and small family households comprised 87 per-cent of the housing stress waiting list, and the report illustrated that the need for small family accommodation remains strong and there is a growing demand to meet requirements for older persons.

The vast majority – 1,285 – of those on the waiting list are in urban areas of the district council area, with 858 to 488 in rural being in ‘housing stress’ during 2022.

NIHE says it is working closely with housing associations to determine the appropriate location, dwelling type and housing mix for new homes locally.