Housing

Affordability, not lax regulation and tax incentives, is key to addressing the housing crisis

Monday, 24 June 2019

It is widely acknowledged that the availability of credit, coupled with ‘light touch’ financial regulation and Government policy contributed to the housing boom and bust which saw spiralling mortgage arrears, social housing waiting lists and homelessness. Why then, are we so eager to recreate the mistakes of the past?

Social Justice Ireland's 5 policy priorities for our newly elected MEPs

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Social Justice Ireland wishes our newly elected MEPs every success. This is a pivotal time for the future of the European Union and MEPs play a key role in ensuring that social and environmental sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of Europe's future. To this end we have formulated Five Key Policy Asks for our MEPs in conjunction with Trocaire. They are: The Elimination of Poverty The Championing of Climate Justice Policy Coherence on the SDGs Delivery on the European Pillar of Social Rights Supporting an international treaty on Business and Human Rights

Rents and Subsidies continue to rise, but still no security for tenants

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

There are 2,700 properties to rent on the market, according to the latest Daft Rent Report, the lowest number of available rentals since the Report was first published in 2006. The average asking rent is €1,366 – a year on year increase of 8.3%. Notwithstanding inflation at a 6-year low, Dublin continues to see the highest rents, ranging from an average of €1,671 in the North County to €2,190 in the South. Meanwhile rent inflation in Munster has reached an all time high of 12%, with rates in Connaught and Ulster also remaining high. Government subsidies to private landlords have also increased in last number of years but how sustainable are these, and what are the alternatives?

National Social Monitor - Local Issues Edition

Monday, 13 May 2019

In this edition of our National Social Monitor, Social Justice Ireland looks at the budgets of each of the 31 Local Authorities and analyses where the money was spent, and where it wasn’t, to assess the priorities of local government.

National Social Monitor - Local Issues - Local Authority Profiles

Saturday, 11 May 2019

What does your Local Authority value? What progress is being made at local level to tackle the causes of issues like housing, job sustainability and climate change? Following the publication of Social Justice Ireland's latest National Social Monitor - Local Issues edition, check out our Local Authority profiles, a one-page overview of each Local Authority area and how it spends its budget on your behalf.

Our 5 Key Policy Asks ahead of the European Elections

Friday, 3 May 2019

Next week, Social Justice Ireland and Trócaire will co-host a hustings event for the Dublin constituency ahead of the European Elections on May 24th. Ahead of this, we have formulated a joint policy platform, with Five Key Policy Asks. They are: The Elimination of Poverty The Championing of Climate Justice Policy Coherence on the SDGs Delivery on the European Pillar of Social Rights Supporting an international treaty on Business and Human Rights

‘No Place Like Home’ – Ombudsman’s Report highlights institutionalised deprivation in Family Hubs

Friday, 19 April 2019

In 2017, the Government introduced Family Hubs as an alternative to hotels and B&Bs and described as a “first step” for families experiencing homelessness. Later that year, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) warned of the risks associated with Family Hubs, of institutionalising families and normalising family homelessness. This warning was ignored, with Minister Murphy urging local authorities to build more rapid build Family Hubs at the Second Housing Summit in January 2018, and increased funding for Family Hubs provided in Budget 2019. A report published by the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman (OCO) this week (18 April 2019) shows just how prescient IHREC’s warnings were, as children as young as 10 describe their living conditions as being “like a prison”.

National Social Monitor Spring 2019 - European Edition - Housing and Accommodation

Wednesday, 17 April 2019

In the European Edition of our National Social Monitor we look at how Ireland compares with other EU-28 countries in the areas of housing conditions and rent affordability.

Increasing numbers in need of long-term, sustainable housing solutions as housing cost burden in the private rented sector unsustainable

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

There are over 67,000 tenants paying market rent spending more than 40% of their disposable income on housing costs. Clearly more affordable, sustainable housing is needed. When added to the almost 72,000 households on the social housing waiting list, and the 54,000 households in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the true scale of the housing crisis becomes clear.

No Consent, No Sale – Any Hope?

Friday, 5 April 2019

According to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Ireland (the Central Bank), non-bank entities held 84,658 home mortgages up to the end of 2018, of which 25,469 are held by unregulated loan owners. While a larger percentage of these loans are in late stage mortgage arrears than those held by banks, an increasing proportion are not in arrears. Borrowers who made the decision to enter into one of the most major contracts of their lives, the mortgage on their home, may not be aware of who owns that mortgage and what, if any, protections they have if they get into difficulty making payments. The Oireachtas is currently considering the No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019 which aims to curb mortgage transfers without the consent of the borrower, with some saying it’s a step too far and will damage the banking industry. But what about the borrowers? In terms of consumer protection, does it go far enough?