Two years on Housing For All is failing fast
- Delays across all action points
- Evictions up 20.6% in Q1 and Q2 2023
- Homelessness up 51.5% since launch of Housing for All
- House prices rise by 17.6%
- Renters continue to be squeezed with 21.3% increase
Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik has slammed Minister O’Brien’s failure to implement any change in housing.
An analysis of Housing for All and across the housing market tells a grim story of major delays, a rental trap, overcooked house prices and systemic homelessness failings.
Deputy Bacik said:
“Housing for All is clearly failing. Homelessness is at record level, people are queuing around the street for a room, people being priced out of buying a home and people paying nearly half their wages on rent.
“Our analysis shows that the Minister is relying on spin over any real substance. Marked by delays across all action points, his plan is clearly not working for tens of thousands of people. All the key indicators are pointing sharply upwards. It’s not acceptable.
“It’s clear that the Minister’s policies are inadequate to tackle the challenges that remain. The lifting of the eviction ban, without any clear evidence basis, is just one issue that vulnerable people in the housing market are up against.
“Labour has called for the reintroduction of the no-fault eviction ban to provide some certainty for renters. With evictions up 20.6% in Q1 and Q2 of this year alone, we need to see a fundamental rethink from Government to protect against an increase in people entering homelessness from the private rental market.
“Having one person living in homelessness is a national disgrace, but Government seem content with almost 13,000 people living in homelessness at present.
“That’s a 51.5% increase since Housing for All was launched. Perhaps it should be named “housing for some” – it seems that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have consistently prioritised the interests of big landlords and investment funds over those of renters and families at risk of homelessness.
“Even when we look at supports for people hoping to get on the housing ladder, the Government is failing to provide equality of access. First time buyers are locked out of supports when buying a second hand home, many of the grants presuppose that people can pay upfront and claim back the outgoings later. That’s just not a possibility for the majority of people in the housing market.
“Last month, we saw research that showed more than two in three people in Ireland aged between 25 and 29 (68%) are still living at home with their parents. What choice have they?
“There has been a consistent rise in rents since the launch of Housing for All – 21.3%. Yet, again, we hear Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil floating proposals on tax breaks for landlords. It’s outrageous. The meagre renters’ tax credit doesn’t cover even one month of the average rent.
“Renters are not just young, they are not transient. We need a holistic review of Ireland’s rental policy. Tackling the unaffordability that is rife in the market is a good starting point.
“The Census shows that our population is due to rise above 5 million people. I have serious concerns about Housing for All, or this Government, being able to provide enough targeted housing on an annual basis.
“Our analysis shows that at least €1 billion extra will need to be put into housing if we are to reach the more appropriate and necessary target of building 50,000-60,000 homes annually.
“Ultimately, it is clear, and all experts tell us, that the State must take on a more direct role in the system, as the private market has vastly different objectives on housing.
“The overall objective of Housing for All was to ensure that “every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes: to purchase or rent at an affordable price; built to a high standard in the right place; offering a high quality of life.” After years of private market failure, we must provide a new model to tackle the housing crisis. The supply and affordability crisis can only be sustainably resolved through long-term State action that delivers affordable housing for once and for all.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
Q3 2022 Actions Delayed
- Finalise a model of health care for people experiencing homelessness, including a health/vulnerability assessment tool to assist in determining suitability for Housing First and level of support needed – Delayed to Q4 2022; no subsequent update
- Commence section 9 of the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019 with a view to empowering Local Authorities to offer rates based incentives for the conversion of suitable vacant commercial properties for residential use – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q3 2023
- Develop a national policy on rightsizing and explore options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis – Delayed to Q4 2022; no subsequent update
- Develop new guidance on achieving the most appropriate tenure mix within communities, including guidance on engagement with communities – Delayed to Q4 2023; N/A
Q4 2022 Actions Delayed
- Publish proposed legislation for land value sharing mechanisms which reflect the uplift in value arising from the zoning of lands – Delayed to Q1 2023; completed in Q1 2023
- Publish proposed legislation for new Urban Development Zones (UDZs), to deliver a co-ordinated and transparent approach to the delivery of residential and urban development, particularly on brownfield sites, meeting the compact growth objectives of the National Planning Framework – Delayed to Q1 2023; completed in Q1 2023
- Publish draft section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance (SCSG), including guidance on housing typologies to facilitate innovative approaches to medium and higher densities which may assist with supporting viability – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q2 2023; delayed again to Q3 2023
- The housing needs of island communities will be fully considered in the development of the forthcoming National Policy for the Island – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q2 2023; completed in Q2 2023
- Provide exemption for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste from proposed waste recovery levy – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q3 2023
- Examine measures to accelerate conveyancing as part of the sale and land transfer process – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q2 2023; delayed again to Q4 2023
- Draft the necessary regulations under the Remediation of Dwellings affected by Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 to facilitate the commencement of the enhanced grant scheme – Delayed to Q1 2023; delayed again to Q2 2023; completed in Q2 2023
Q1 2023 Actions Delayed
- Explore further the scope for The Housing Agency Acquisition Fund to add to the social housing system through converting non-residential premises or larger residential units into smaller units and, as appropriate, some communal / community use, particularly for social housing applicants experiencing homelessness, in advance of a final decision being made on the future of the Fund – Delayed to Q2 2023; completed in Q2 2023
- Carry out a review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme to consider the role of the Scheme in the private market, taking account of the impact of HAP and AHB participation – Delayed to Q2 2023; delayed again to Q3 2023
- Issue updated guidance on rural housing – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Legislate to increase the borrowing capacity of the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to €12bn, with a review in 2 years, to support the local government sector in land acquisition and delivery of social and affordable homes – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Commence section 9 of the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019 with a view to empowering Local Authorities to offer rates-based incentives for the conversion of suitable vacant commercial properties to residential use – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Develop new regulatory controls requiring Short-Term and Holiday Lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that homes are used to best effect in areas of housing need – Delayed to Q1 2024
- Remove potential barriers to use of the rent a room scheme to increase its potential as a source of student accommodation by reviewing the assessment of Rent a Room Income within the Medical Card assessment process – Delayed to Q2 2023; delayed again to Q3 2023
- The housing needs of island communities will be fully considered in the development of the forthcoming National Policy for the Islands – Delayed to Q2 2023; completed in Q1 2023
- Provide exemption for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste from proposed waste recovery levy – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Examine measures to accelerate conveyancing as part of the sale and land transfer process – Delayed to Q2 2023; delayed again to Q4 2023
- Draft the necessary regulations under the Remediation of Dwellings affected by Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 to facilitate the commencement of the enhanced grant scheme – Delayed to Q2 2023; completed in Q2 2023
Q2 2023 Actions Delayed
- Review the operation of the private rental sector and report on policy considerations ahead of Budget 2024 – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Publish draft section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance (SCSG), including guidance on housing typologies to facilitate innovative approaches to medium and higher densities which may assist with supporting viability – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Publish final section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance (SCSG), including guidance on housing typologies to facilitate innovative approaches to medium and higher densities which may assist with supporting viability – Delayed to Q4 2023
- Develop and publish a programme to outline the secondary legislation and updated guidance which will be progressed following the review and consolidation of planning legislation – Delayed to Q1 2024
- Phase one of the National Demonstration Park for MMC is opened and operational – Delayed Q1 2024
- Develop a legislative ‘First Right of Refusal’ proposal, which would require a landlord selling a property to first offer it for purchase to the tenant – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Review operation of the Fair Deal Scheme to assess impact of changes to rules on rental income during 2022 and evaluate further options to eliminate barriers to older people utilizing the Fair Deal scheme who wish to rent out their homes – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Develop policy and methodology for potential long-term state support for the construction of PBSA to provide additionality for targeted cohorts – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Carry out a review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme to consider the role of the Scheme in the private market, taking account of the impact of HAP and AHB participation – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Scope out a programme of work to update the BCMS system to enhance its data analytics and improve the quality of information captured on housing commencements – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Develop a dashboard of MMC metrics to benchmark, and subsequently track, levels of MMC adoption in Ireland – Delayed to Q1 2024
- Remove potential barriers to use of the rent a room scheme to increase its potential as a source of student accommodation by reviewing the assessment of Rent a Room income within the Medical Card assessment process – Delayed to Q3 2023
- Examine measures to accelerate conveyancing as part of the sale and land transfer process – Delayed to Q4 2023
- Bring proposals to Government for the creation of an independent Building Standards Regulator to oversee building control nationwide and to act as custodian of the Building Control Management System (BCMS) – Delayed to 2023