LONDON (AFX) - UK housing starts rose 3 pct on a seasonally adjusted basis in the three months to September when compared with the previous 3 months, while total completions in the same period were up 1 pct, according to figures released by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). Housing starts totalled 47,400 in the latest three months while completions numbered 40,800. Housing starts in September stood at 15,700, compared with 14,200 a year ago, while completions rose to 13,700 from 13,300 in September 2000, according to provisional estimates.