Derry, or Londonderry to give it its formal name, is Northern Ireland's second city. With the town of Strabane it forms the Derry City and Strabane council district, and for buy-to-let investors it is the main property market in the region's North West. At an average house price of £185,000 it is also one of the cheaper places to buy in Northern Ireland, in a market that has recovered strongly over the last decade.
This guide is built entirely from official Northern Ireland data: the Northern Ireland House Price Index, NISRA census and population figures, NIHE market rents and Department for Infrastructure planning records, refreshed for June 2026. Northern Ireland does not publish the postcode-level sold-price and yield data we use for cities in England, Scotland and Wales. So this guide gives you the official district-level picture rather than a postcode yield table. Where that data gap matters, we say so.
Article updated: July 2026
Derry City and Strabane Property Market at a Glance
The average house price in Derry City and Strabane is £185,000 and the average private rent is £798 a month. Here is the headline picture, all from current official sources.
| Measure | Derry City and Strabane | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price (Jan–Mar 2026) | £185,000, up 10.2% on the year | ONS / NI House Price Index |
| Average private rent (Feb 2026) | £798 per month | ONS local housing data |
| Verified residential sales (2025) | 1,480 | NI House Price Index |
| Private rented sector | 17.9% of households | Census 2021 |
| Population (2024) | 152,383 | NISRA |
| Postcode areas | BT47, BT48 and BT82 | Royal Mail |
Why Investors Look at Derry City and Strabane
The district takes in Derry, Northern Ireland's second city, and the town of Strabane to the south. Local services are run by Derry City and Strabane District Council. Derry is the commercial and administrative centre for the North West, with a riverside city centre on the River Foyle and the historic walled city at its core.
For landlords, two things stand out. Derry is a university city: Ulster University's Magee campus sits in the city and is set to expand, which supports steady demand for shared and student housing. And the district has seen sustained regeneration over the last decade, from the Peace Bridge and the Ebrington site on the Waterside to ongoing riverfront and city-centre projects.
House Prices in Derry City and Strabane
The average house price in Derry City and Strabane was £185,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 10.2% over the year. The standardised price from the Northern Ireland House Price Index was £185,356 for the same quarter, so the headline figure is a fair reflection of the underlying market rather than a quirk of which homes happened to sell.
Set against the other ten Northern Ireland districts, Derry City and Strabane sits near the bottom for price. Only Mid and East Antrim at £174,000 and Belfast at £181,000 are cheaper, and the district is level with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon at £185,000. Figures are from the ONS local housing data and the Northern Ireland House Price Index.
The price history tells a recovery story. The average peaked before the crash at £166,187 in 2007, then fell hard to a low of £81,528 in 2013, around half the peak. Unlike Belfast, the North West market has more than made the ground back: at £185,356 in early 2026 it sits comfortably above the 2007 high, after a steady climb every year since 2013.
How Derry City and Strabane Compares Across Northern Ireland
Derry City and Strabane is one of the more affordable Northern Ireland districts, with a mid-sized population and a solid level of sales for the region. The table below covers all eleven Northern Ireland districts, ordered by average house price.
| District | Avg house price | Avg rent (pcm) | Sales (2025) | Private rented | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid and East Antrim | £174,000 | £799 | 1,888 | 16.1% | 139,913 |
| Belfast | £181,000 | £1,131 | 4,807 | 20.5% | 352,390 |
| Derry City and Strabane | £185,000 | £798 | 1,480 | 17.9% | 152,383 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | £185,000 | £767 | 2,767 | 18.6% | 222,511 |
| Mid Ulster | £190,000 | £799 | 1,260 | 18.9% | 152,718 |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | £193,000 | £671 | 972 | 18.5% | 117,687 |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | £201,000 | £799 | 2,272 | 13.9% | 148,100 |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | £208,000 | £810 | 1,830 | 17.9% | 141,954 |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | £219,000 | £781 | 1,746 | 18.0% | 183,115 |
| Ards and North Down | £226,000 | £953 | 3,039 | 13.4% | 165,415 |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | £233,000 | £953 | 2,431 | 11.2% | 151,669 |
The district's average rent of £798 a month sits mid-table, and its private rented sector at 17.9% of households is close to the Northern Ireland norm. On price, it is among the cheapest places to buy in the region, in a city with a university and an ongoing regeneration programme. If you are weighing Derry against cities elsewhere in the UK, our guide to the best buy-to-let locations sets it in that wider context.
Sales Activity and Liquidity
Derry City and Strabane recorded 1,480 verified residential sales in 2025. The first quarter of 2026 added a further 272 sales. By property type, that quarter broke down as 97 terraced homes, 79 detached, 73 semi-detached and 23 apartments, which shows a more even spread across house types than the terrace-heavy Belfast market. Sales figures are from the Northern Ireland House Price Index.
Liquidity matters for buy-to-let because it affects how easily you can buy at the right price and, later, sell or refinance. The North West sees fewer transactions than Belfast, but a steady flow for a district of its size.
Rents in Derry City and Strabane
The average private rent in Derry City and Strabane was £798 a month in February 2026. By bedroom count the ONS figures were £551 for a one-bed, £703 for a two-bed, £801 for a three-bed and £1,108 for four or more bedrooms.
For a separate read on the market, the Housing Executive's weekly market rents for the North West area were £112.65 for a one-bed, £138.46 for a two-bed, £150.00 for a three-bed and £172.96 for a four-bed in 2026/27. Those come from NIHE market rent data.
One thing to know about these rent figures. They are based on advertised new lettings and reported by Broad Rental Market Area rather than by district, so they are not directly comparable with the rent measures published for England, Scotland and Wales. They are a sound guide to the North West market, not a like-for-like figure against a city across the water. If you are still working out whether the numbers stack up for you, our guide to whether buy-to-let is worth it walks through how to think about it.
Rental Demand Signals
Northern Ireland doesn't publish a postcode-level demand score. Instead, here are the official figures that show what tenant demand in Derry City and Strabane looks like.
- The private rented sector houses 17.9% of households, close to the Northern Ireland average. That is a meaningful, established tenant base for a district of this size.
- The population is 152,383, mid-sized for a Northern Ireland district, centred on the region's second city.
- Ulster University's Magee campus sits in Derry and is earmarked for growth, adding a recurring student tenant market.
- 1,480 sales a year show a steady market that landlords can buy into and exit.
Tenure figures are from the Census 2021 housing tables and population from NISRA's 2024 estimates.
Housing Stock and Property Mix
Derry City and Strabane has around 66,675 dwellings. The stock is led by terraced housing at 21,714 homes, then detached at 19,497, semi-detached at 17,802, purpose-built apartments at 5,955 and converted apartments at 1,707. The Census 2021 accommodation split is more even still: 32.3% semi-detached, 32.0% detached, 26.0% terraced and 9.7% flats.
For investors that profile matters. Compared with the terrace-and-semi pattern of Belfast, the North West has a more even spread that includes a larger share of detached and semi-detached homes, so the typical buy-to-let here is a traditional house rather than an apartment. Stock figures come from the Department of Finance housing stock statistics.
Planning and New Supply
Derry City and Strabane received 667 planning applications in 2024/25, of which 382 were residential, with 618 applications still live at the end of the period and 303 of those residential. New housing supply in the first quarter of 2026 ran to 138 starts and 117 completions. The data is from the Department for Infrastructure planning statistics.
Areas and Postcodes in Derry City and Strabane
The district is covered by the BT47, BT48 and BT82 postcodes. BT48 is the city side of Derry west of the Foyle, including the walled city centre, BT47 is the Waterside to the east of the river and the surrounding area, and BT82 covers Strabane and its hinterland to the south.
We are not publishing a postcode-by-postcode yield table for Derry City and Strabane. Northern Ireland does not yet have address-level sold-price and rental data at the quality we use elsewhere, and we would rather show you nothing than show you a yield figure we cannot stand behind. When robust postcode data becomes available, we will add it.
Buying Investment Property in Derry City and Strabane
If you are looking to invest in the North West, the practical route is to start with the deals rather than the data. We introduce investors to current, vetted opportunities through our buy-side partner. You can view buy-to-let property for sale, look at below market value properties, or register for off-market opportunities that never reach the portals. To talk through what suits your budget and goals, start with an investment property enquiry.
Two pieces of Northern Ireland regulation to be aware of as a landlord. A House in Multiple Occupation needs a licence under Northern Ireland's HMO licensing scheme, and all new HMOs also need planning permission. Separately, every private landlord in Northern Ireland must register under the Northern Ireland Landlord Registration Scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average house price in Derry City and Strabane?
The average house price was £185,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 10.2% over the year, according to ONS and the Northern Ireland House Price Index. That is among the lowest of Northern Ireland's eleven districts, level with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.
What is the average rent in Derry City and Strabane?
The average private rent was £798 a month in February 2026. By bedroom count the ONS figures ranged from £551 for a one-bed to £1,108 for four or more bedrooms.
Is Derry City and Strabane a busy property market?
The district recorded 1,480 verified sales in 2025 and a further 272 in the first quarter of 2026. That is a steady level of activity for a mid-sized Northern Ireland district, though well below Belfast's volume.
How does Derry City and Strabane compare with the rest of Northern Ireland?
It is one of the more affordable districts on average price, behind only Mid and East Antrim and Belfast and level with Armagh. Its rent and private rented sector sit close to the Northern Ireland average, while its entry price is among the lowest in the region.
What types of property are most common in Derry City and Strabane?
The stock is fairly evenly split between terraced, detached and semi-detached homes, with apartments a small share. Compared with Belfast it has a larger proportion of detached and semi-detached houses, so the typical buy-to-let here is a traditional house rather than a flat.
Do I need a licence to let property in Derry City and Strabane?
Under Northern Ireland's HMO licensing scheme, a House in Multiple Occupation needs a licence and all new HMOs also need planning permission. Separately, every private landlord in Northern Ireland must register under the Northern Ireland Landlord Registration Scheme.
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