Steady start to the year for new home registrations, reports NHBC

NHBC has reported that more than 11,500 new homes were registered to be built in the UK during January, a slight increase from the same time a year ago.

11,733 new homes (9,312 private sector; 2,421 affordable sector) were registered during the month, compared to 11,607 (8,543 private sector; 3,064 affordable sector) in January 2017, an increase of 1%.

Figures for the rolling quarter (Nov 2017 - Jan 2018) were virtually identical with 38,181 new homes registered during this period, compared to 38,237 a year ago. 28,773 were registered within the private sector (28,670 last year), with the affordable sector down 2% (9,408 in 17/18; 9,567 in 16/17).

However, there was strong growth in the East Midlands (+49%), the North West (+42%) and London (+40%) over this three month period.

As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC's registration statistics are a lead indicator of the UK’s new homes market.

Commenting on the latest new home registrations statistics, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: "The first new home figures of 2018 are broadly in line with the same period a year ago.

"There are some impressive volumes being reported in a number of UK regions, which we hope will continue throughout the year in both the private and affordable sectors. This is needed to deliver the volumes of new, high-quality homes that the country needs."

NHBC UK statistics for November 2017 - January 2018 show that:

The number of NHBC new home registrations was 38,181 compared to 38,237 in the same period last year. Of these:

• 28,773 were registered in the private sector, compared to 28,670 in the same period last year.
• 9,408 were registered in the affordable sector, compared to 9,567 in the same period last year.

Full regional breakdown of total new homes registered for the rolling quarter November 2017 - January 2018

Registrations refer to the process of a builder registering a new plot/home to be built in the coming months or weeks, to be covered by NHBC's 10-year Buildmark warranty. Completions refer to when a new home is completed by the builder.

Changes can occur between figures published at different times owing to changes in policies and cancellations.

NHBC's role is to support the industry in maintaining and improving the build quality of new homes for homebuyers, whilst providing the benefit of its 10-year Buildmark warranty protection, when required.

NHBC does this through a wide range of activities, from standards setting through technical support to warranty and insurance.

NHBC is a non-profit distributing organisation with no shareholders. It invests any surplus into activities that improve new homes further, in particular through its research arm, the NHBC Foundation.

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. NHBC's ten-year Buildmark warranty covers around 80 per cent of new homes built in the UK, having covered nearly eight million homes since it began and currently protecting around 1.5 million homes.