A newly identified social housing need of nearly 90,000 households has highlighted a looming supply crisis with the problem worsening in the Dublin area, according to the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH).
The new report from the Housing Agency – the 2013 Housing Needs Assessment – shows the scale of local authority housing needs across the country
Mr Donal McManus, ICSH Executive Director, said: “The sheer scale of housing need reflected in these figures with current constraints on new supply is of serious concern otherwise waiting times for the offer of a home will increase beyond 5 years.”
A slight decrease in the figures since 2011 may be accounted for by changes in the count. However, the new figures are still over 30% higher than those counted at the start of the economic crisis in 2008. In addition, there is a trend with private landlords being increasingly used to house families from the waiting list. But ICSH pointed out that this was at a very high cost to the state with rent assistance, often temporary in nature which made it more difficult to create sustainable communities.
Mr McManus added: “There is a supply crisis looming, building up rapidly in Dublin which the private rented market cannot cope with’.
A recent ICSH survey found that non-profit housing associations have the capacity to accommodate an additional 5,000 households from housing waiting lists.
“Non-profit housing associations are being underutilised, they are using a range of measures to try and deliver social housing but would welcome a more strategic approach from Government on housing supply policy through a three year planned programme’ said Mr McManus.
Latest figures from daft.ie show only 1,500 properties available to rent on November 1st last compared to over 6,700 on the same day four years ago. At the same time, the rent index compiled by the PRTB and ESRI show rents in Dublin have increased by 6.4%.
“This is all driven by a squeeze on new supply which will become more acute as CSO projections have indicated,” said Mr McManus who pointed out that “the safety net of using available housing in the private landlord sector for families and vulnerable households will not be a realistic option from now on and that is why there is a need for increased supply of new social housing provided at affordable rents. We would encourage Government to increase their commitments in this respect’.
Mr McManus said: “Housing associations are willing to supply more social housing with private finance as part of new mixed funding models and with Government assistance required to resolve existing hurdles can deliver more much needed homes to the most vulnerable. This can be achieved using a greater range of delivery mechanisms including new build”.
Since 2011 non-profit housing associations, who manage up to 27,000 homes for families and vulnerable groups have been earmarked by Government for an enhanced role in the supply of new social housing.
The key issues that were identified by housing associations for Government to enable housing associations deliver more social housing included:
- Availability of private finance required on good terms and conditions
- Removing administrative hurdles such as state mortgage charges
- NAMA model of leasing and acquisition of properties
- Need for a three year planned housing development programme
- Limited state capital assistance funding targeted for special needs for leverage in accessing private loan finance
- Provision of state land for delivering new social housing
Ends
For further information contact Donal McManus or Karen Murphy on 01 6618334.
Notes for Editors
- The Irish Council for Social Housing is the National Federation of social housing organisations with over 270 housing associations who provide social housing in ever local authority area. These include the Iveagh Trust, Cluid, Tuath, Respond, and local and regional housing associations
- The Housing Needs Assessment undertaken at the start of the start of the economic crisis had just over 56,000 in need of social housing
- Housing associations now provide over 27,000 homes for families, elderly, homeless people and people with disabilities.
- The voluntary housing sector provides new tenancies to 3,000 people each year through new lets and re-lets.
