Good morning wanted to thank you for the newsletters they are very informative and due to one a couple of weeks ago was able to join a webinar yesterday Innovation in Housing Advice in the UK Private Rented Sector. Wanted to ask you,based on your research above on making your rented property your home, do you think there is an appetite here for a more European model of longer term or indefinite tenancies with lesser minimum standards obligations for landlords and giving tenants greater responsibility for providing furniture, decoration, minor maintenance etc?
Hi Stephen, thanks a mil for the feedback and glad you are finding the Newsletter useful. It's a tricky question in the Irish context. I don't think there is an appetite for that kind of PRS model in Ireland currently, because the vast majority of renters want to buy. Eoin Corrigan's research identified that last year I think. But there are two important caveats. First, based on current policy the reality is that many will rent long term, whether or not they want to, and so I think the kind of model you suggest will be needed. Especially as we have more children growing up in the PRS, more people getting older in the PRS etc. Second, around 40% of households in the PRS are non-Irish born (based on 2016 CSO data). We REALLY need to understand their experiences better and it is possible they do not have the same aspiration to homeownership as Irish born renters, and therefor would welcome a PRS along the lines you suggest.
Overall I think we need a real conversation at a societal level about where we want the housing system to go. If the PRS is going to remain as large as it is now than sooner or later I think we will have to adopt the model you suggest.
Good morning wanted to thank you for the newsletters they are very informative and due to one a couple of weeks ago was able to join a webinar yesterday Innovation in Housing Advice in the UK Private Rented Sector. Wanted to ask you,based on your research above on making your rented property your home, do you think there is an appetite here for a more European model of longer term or indefinite tenancies with lesser minimum standards obligations for landlords and giving tenants greater responsibility for providing furniture, decoration, minor maintenance etc?
Hi Stephen, thanks a mil for the feedback and glad you are finding the Newsletter useful. It's a tricky question in the Irish context. I don't think there is an appetite for that kind of PRS model in Ireland currently, because the vast majority of renters want to buy. Eoin Corrigan's research identified that last year I think. But there are two important caveats. First, based on current policy the reality is that many will rent long term, whether or not they want to, and so I think the kind of model you suggest will be needed. Especially as we have more children growing up in the PRS, more people getting older in the PRS etc. Second, around 40% of households in the PRS are non-Irish born (based on 2016 CSO data). We REALLY need to understand their experiences better and it is possible they do not have the same aspiration to homeownership as Irish born renters, and therefor would welcome a PRS along the lines you suggest.
Overall I think we need a real conversation at a societal level about where we want the housing system to go. If the PRS is going to remain as large as it is now than sooner or later I think we will have to adopt the model you suggest.
Interested to hear your perspective though!