Housing Insights

Apartment Building – Croí Cónaithe (Cities)

In this episode of Housing Insights, host Roslyn Molloy speaks with Jim Baneham, Director of Delivery and Innovation at The Housing Agency, about the need to increase apartment building and viability in Ireland's major urban centres. Ireland is significantly behind its EU neighbours, with about 13% of its housing stock in apartments compared to the EU average of 46%. Jim explains the national planning push for compact living and urban density to accommodate a growing population, projecting a rise to around 6.1 million by 2040. The core of the discussion is the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme, a €450 million fund committed to incentivise the delivery of up to 5,000 new apartments specifically for owner-occupiers. The scheme aims to address the viability gap (the higher cost of building apartments compared to houses) which has largely pushed apartment building into the rental sector. Jim details how the scheme works through an "open book" process and discusses other government measures, like VAT reduction and design standard changes, intended to make apartment development more viable for purchasers. Links and Resources Housing Agency Website: housingagency.ie (To find more information about the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme Government Policy: Housing for All plan Support Schemes for Purchasers (Mentioned): Help to Buy, First Home Scheme

Transcribe →

The Rise of Cost Rental in Ireland

Dec 300:17:32Tap to summarize

In this episode of Housing Insights, host David Silke dives into the critical topic of Cost Rental in Ireland, a new housing tenure designed to address the needs of the "missing middle", those with moderate incomes who are above the social housing threshold but can't afford open market rents. David is joined by Gwen Perry, Head of Affordable Housing at the Housing Agency, who has over 20 years of experience in the housing sector. Gwen explains that Cost Rental is a non-profit model where rent is strictly based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the home, drawing inspiration from successful long-term rental options in countries like Austria and Denmark. The discussion covers the legislative foundation laid by the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the progress of over 3,800 homes delivered to date, and the future goal of delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes. Listeners will learn about eligibility criteria, the significant advantages like security and stable, professionally managed homes, and how to apply for a scheme. Affordable Homes Website: affordablehomes.ie (Central platform for available cost rental and affordable purchase homes) Legislation: Affordable Housing Act in 2021. Cost Rental Providers: Approved Housing Bodies (Clúid, Respond, Circle, Oaklee), Land Development Agency, and Local Authorities.

Transcribe →