Just six per cent of people renting in Ireland do so by choice, according to a report from homelessness charity Threshold.
Over a half of renters who participated in Threshold’s We are Generation Rent survey are renting because they cannot afford to buy their own home.
The annual survey also shows that 74 per cent of those surveyed struggle to pay bills and other household expenses after rent – up from 59 per cent 12 months ago.
The findings "paint a picture of unaffordability and insecurity for many respondents". Just 6 per cent of those surveyed are renting by choice - a "significant decrease" compared to 17 per cent from last year.
Furthermore, 88 per cent of respondents have found it extremely difficult to find rental accommodation - a rise of 16 per cent on 2023 - pointing to the challenges faced by those reliant on the rental market. This is the seventh consecutive year of the survey.
Security of tenure
Feelings of insecurity in tenure have increased year-on-year, with more than half (53 per cent) of respondents in 2024 stating that they feel insecure or very insecure in their accommodation. This is an increase from 48 per cent last year, and 44 per cent in 2022.
Launching the report, Steven Matthews, TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage said: “There will always be a need for a viable rental sector for people who choose that over home ownership for a variety of reasons, but this should be through choice – rather than necessity - as is the situation faced by many who contributed to this report. Tenancies need to be secure, affordable and meet proper health and wellbeing standards. The development of the cost rental sector is key in providing security and affordability.
“I welcome any research carried out to ensure we are making the right decisions on the most critical immediate issue we face in housing supply and affordability…and I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work Threshold do in helping people across the country who face challenges in accessing suitable accommodation.”
Threshold chied executive John-Mark McCafferty said: "The unaffordability and unavailability of rental options are being experienced by both those in, or seeking, private rental housing. This is preventing people from establishing a stable and safe home."
Other challenges
The survey also highlights other key challenges encountered by these renters, with 54 per cent of respondents feeling uncomfortable contacting their landlord about issues with standards in the home. When these are raised, just over one quarter of those who reported issues had them resolved. Close to 70 per cent of respondents had experienced issues with poor standards in the home, with damp and mould and shower/water-related issues being among the most common.
On a positive note, three-quarters felt their knowledge of rental rights and responsibilities was good or very good, and 60 per cent said that their knowledge of how they can bring a complaint or lodge a dispute with the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) was either good or very good. Just over two-thirds (67 per cent) said that their knowledge of how their landlord could end their tenancy was either good or very good.
Key policy recommendations
Recommendations from the report include the move toward a ‘unitary’ housing system, such as in Sweden, in which much larger social and cost-rental housing provision is accessible to a larger number of households across a broader range of incomes.
The report stated: "This creates competition for the private rental sector, which can compel it to become more competitive, with increased value for money and greater security. Threshold also advocates for the ongoing expansion of the tenant-in-situ scheme and cost-rental, the improved enforcement of minimum standards, rent regulation, and introducing a constitutional right to housing."
