More than 31,000 homes in Northern Ireland are unfit to live in, according to the Housing Executive's annual review.

The review, published on Friday, said the figure accounts for almost 5% of the entire housing stock in the province.

The reduction in unfitness masks the high level that persists in rural areas Sid McDowell Housing Executive

More than 3,000 homes are becoming unfit through disrepair each year, but the Housing Executive said there was clear evidence mechanisms to tackle unfit housing were working.

The review pointed out that the number of unfit houses had fallen by 13,000 in the last six years.

Executive chairman Sid McDowell said: "The reduction in unfitness masks the high level that persists in rural areas and in some parts of inner-city Belfast."

While things were getting better, he said there was a need for sustained investment.

"Today, our duty is not to sit on our laurels and herald our progress, it is to work even harder to ensure that people have access to warm, safe, comfortable homes."

Waiting list

The review highlighted the funding issue, saying a backlog of maintenance and improvement work to Housing Executive and housing association homes was the result of previous shortfalls.

In the past 18 months, the waiting list for public housing has increased from 22,000 to 27,000 and there has been a 12% increase in the number of households presenting themselves as homeless during the last year.

Half of those were single and nearly two-thirds were male.

The review said 1,500 new homes must be built in the social sector each year to meet demand from the waiting list.