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Average home insurance premiums in Newry, Mourne and Down fell by 19% in Q3 2026, from £819 to £666. That is the biggest drop in any district in the north according to new research from CompareNI.com. However, the district remains by far the most expensive in Northern Ireland, with local households paying more than three and a half times the UK average of £185.
Newry, Mourne and Down remains the most expensive district due in part to the severe flooding that hit the south-east in autumn 2023, which caused an estimated £40 million worth of damage. Households in the district continue to be severely affected, with premiums still 70% higher than at this time three years ago.
Ian Wilson, Managing Director at CompareNI.com, said: “While it’s positive to see premiums here falling faster than anywhere else, households in Northern Ireland are paying almost two and a half times the national average.”
He added: “It’s encouraging to see the gap between the dearest and cheapest districts is continuing to narrow, with Newry, Mourne and Down in particular seeing massive savings.”
Prices dropped in every Northern Ireland district in the quarter, and the gap between the highest and lowest-priced areas has narrowed from over £400 last quarter to around £270. Lisburn and Castlereagh now has the lowest average premiums in Northern Ireland, after a 10% quarterly fall to £394. It replaces Ards and North Down as the cheapest district, which saw the smallest reduction overall, down 2%.
The research shows the average annual premium in Northern Ireland is now £455. That is 78% more than homeowners in London are paying, with London the second most expensive region at an average of £256. Premiums in Northern Ireland dropped by 5% in Q3 2026, down £24 since the previous quarter, which was the biggest fall of any UK region. The East of England saw the next largest decrease at 3.4%, while London’s premiums fell by 1.9%. Premiums in Northern Ireland are still more than twice the UK average of £185 and over three times higher than the North East of England, the cheapest region at £134.
The higher prices in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain are partly due to a combination of risk and market issues. Building repairs tend to be more expensive because of labour shortages and material costs, and there are fewer providers than in Great Britain, potentially making costs less competitive.
Households are still feeling the effects of the price surge of recent years. Today’s average premium remains £135 (42%) higher than in Q3 2023, when it was £320. Premiums rose by more than half (52%) in the following 12 months, reaching £487 by Q3 2024, and prices remained high in 2025, hitting £504 in Q2 of that year. The increase was driven by a combination of surging repair costs, rising claims payouts and extreme weather events.
Wilson said: “However, it’s important to put this into context. The average NI household is still paying around £135 more than it was three years ago. Although things are moving in the right direction, many homeowners will still be feeling the pinch.”
He also offered advice on reducing costs. “Thankfully, there are still ways to bring the cost of home insurance down. Households should make sure the value of their home and contents is accurate, so they aren’t over-insured.”
Wilson continued: “Paying in a lump sum rather than monthly instalments, if possible, will avoid interest charges, and improving home security, such as upgrading door locks and fitting downstairs windows with locks, could help lower premiums by reducing risk for insurers.”
He added: “One of the most effective ways to make savings is to never allow a policy to auto-renew without shopping around for competitive quotes from multiple providers.”
CompareNI.com helps households in Northern Ireland compare and find savings on their home insurance, as well as niche products such as landlord, holiday home or unoccupied property insurance.
