Number of new home registrations slowed in third quarter, figures show

The number of new homes being registered slowed down in the third quarter of this year, according to industry figures.

There were 39,364 registrations – down by 9% compared with the same period a year earlier, the National House Building Council (NHBC) said.

The NHBC is a warranty and insurance provider, covering around 80% of new homes built in the UK.

Builders register homes to be built in the coming weeks or months – so the figures are an indicator of the level of new housing supply in the pipeline.

The year-on-year fall in registrations was driven by home registrations in the private sector.

In the private sector, 27,916 homes were registered, 16% down on a year earlier.

The number of affordable homes being registered increased by 11% annually, with 11,448 registrations.

In the West Midlands, registrations jumped by 52% annually, which the NHBC said was boosted by plots registered in Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games athletes’ village.

NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: “It is great to see the strength of the affordable and rental sectors whilst we would hope that the slowdown in private sector registrations is transient, and a function of short-term Brexit uncertainties.

“In any event, NHBC will continue to work with builders to raise standards and improve quality for home owners.”

Here are the number of new home registrations between July and September 2019, followed by the same period in 2018 and the percentage change, according to the NHBC:

– North East, 1,849, 2,168, minus 15%
– North West and Merseyside,  3,161, 4,273, minus 26%
– Yorkshire and Humberside, 2,284, 2,901, minus 21%
– West Midlands, 4,760, 3,136, 52%
– East Midlands, 3,232, 3,073, 5%
– Eastern England, 4,143, 3,808, 9%
– South West England, 3,055, 4,604, minus 34%
– London, 5,143, 6,005, minus 14%
– South East England, 6,735, 7,006, minus 4%
– Total England,  34,362, 36,974, minus 7%
– Scotland, 2,820, 3,681, minus 23%
– Wales,  1,045, 1,473, minus 29%
– Northern Ireland and Isle of Man, 1,137, 1,275, minus 11%