News

PRESS RELEASE

11th May, 2023

The Housing Agency secures support to advance retrofitting in multi-apartment buildings

- Research to contribute towards reducing energy poverty and meeting Ireland’s net-zero emission targets -

 

The Housing Agency will receive support under the European Commission Technical Support Instrument (TSI) for a multi-country project involving Ireland, Austria and Lithuania on building decarbonisation. The project will include research of multi-unit developments’ (MUDs) finances and governance, to advance methods of whole-of-building retrofitting in apartment buildings. Retrofitting apartment buildings will contribute towards meeting Ireland’s net-zero emission targets, and reduce the risk of energy poverty.

 

The announcement was made at the Housing Agency’s Housing Practitioners’ conference taking place in Limerick today and tomorrow. The conference, organised in collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration will address the theme "Housing for All: Lessons from Practice" and will cover topics including sustainability, supply, vacancy, affordability and more.

 

Speaking today about the successful research support application, Bob Jordan, CEO, The Housing Agency said: “Homes throughout Ireland, including a significant number of people living in apartments, are experiencing energy poverty and struggling to keep their homes warm. Retrofitting homes is an important action in tackling energy poverty and creating warmer and healthier homes. This is particularly pertinent for renters and low-income dwellers.

 

“The number of apartments in Ireland has increased by 85 per cent from 2002 to 2016, and we know that a significant proportion of apartments require retrofitting. Retrofitting MUDs could present a unique opportunity to retrofit at scale - a well-designed retrofit programme will deliver the successful upgrade of dozens or hundreds of homes in one project. 

“However, there are a number of challenges in retrofitting MUDs, such as financing the project, and complicated ownership structures which can inhibit motivation and owner engagement to retrofit.

 

“This project to be undertaken thanks to the European Commission support will identify pathways to deliver retrofitting at scale and increase the energy performance of Irish apartment MUDs, as well as contributing to reaching Ireland’s net-zero emissions targets.”

 

Challenges in carrying out necessary retrofitting in apartment MUDs include:

• Access to funding and credit finance;
• Complex and fragmented ownership structures, including private and public / social tenures; and
• Suboptimal governance of the buildings.

 

The project is expected to commence in Q3 of 2023, with a view to being completed by the end of 2024.

 

The support was awarded under the 2023 cycle of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support Technical Support Instrument (TSI).

 

Further information on The Housing Agency is available here:  http://www.housingagency.ie. 

 

ENDS

 

Contact: Sorcha MacMahon / Emily Brennan, Alice Public Relations, Tel: 087-7585337 / 086-1658629, Email: media@alicepr.com

 

Notes to Editors:

 

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency supports the development of sustainable communities across Ireland. It works to meet the nation’s housing needs by:

• Rolling out new housing projects and co-ordinating programmes that can transform how we live. 
• Using data and research to provide evidence-based solutions.
• Advising the Government on housing policies.
• Collaborating with all those involved in the housing sector in Ireland to ensure we are working as effectively as possible. 

 

A State-funded body governed by an independent Board, The Housing Agency works mainly with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and non-profit housing providers.

 

Follow The Housing Agency on Twitter: @HousingAgencyIE.

 

Press release originally issued by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 28th April 2023

The Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has re-appointed Mr. Michael Carey as Chair to the Board of the Housing Agency until April 2028.

In making the announcement, the Minister expressed his appreciation of the dedication and commitment that Mr. Carey has given to the Housing Agency since he joined as Chairperson in 2018.

Commenting, Minister O’Brien said:

“Given the level of experience, leadership and skills Mr. Carey undoubtedly possesses and his commitment to the Housing Agency over the last five years, as we work through the ambitious Housing for All Plan I look forward to continuing to work with the Housing Agency to achieve the goals set out in the Plan.”

Written by Karl Burke, of The Housing Agency's research team. 

The Housing Agency’s Data Insight Series seeks to inform housing practitioners and the public about topical housing issues by presenting data is a visual and accessible format. Launched in September, to date, four issues have been published with the most recent release in April 2023.

The third iteration of the data insights series explored two challenges that are facing Irish families and communities with the cost of living – housing costs and energy prices.

In relation to housing, there are two primary concerns – accelerated housing costs for both homeowners’ and renters, and a growth in the number of people presenting as homeless. The current findings from the Housing Agency’s data insights series show that prior to early 2015, costs for homeowners and renters were reasonably stable. However, since then, both indicators have been steadily increasing overtime. For example, in January 2020, the national median sale price of housing was €255,000 and the national standardised average rent for new tenancies was €1,287 in Q1 2020. Prices continued to rise in early 2021 where the median sale price had risen to €270,000 and the average rent on new tenancies rose to €1,341. The latest data shows that in November 2022, the median sale price of housing stands at €310,000 while the standardised average rent on new tenancies is €1,481.

On energy prices, many households across Ireland have experienced increased costs in heating their homes since the war in Ukraine began. The European Union have imposed restrictions on fossil fuel imports from Russia. This in turn has led the EU to re-evaluate its heavy reliance on Russian energy, particularly within mainland Europe. Findings from this data insights series shows that in the first half of 2020, households were paying an average gas price of 6.73 cents per kWh and paying an average 23.05 cents per kWh on electricity. By the end of 2021, average gas and electricity prices paid by households had increased to 7.93 cents per kWh for gas and 28.23 cents per kWh for electricity. As of early 2022, the average gas price paid by households was 8.51 cents per kWh. Interestingly, average prices paid for electricity had declined to 26.45 cents per kWh.

While housing and energy costs are likely to remain an issue for the foreseeable future, there are positive signs that energy prices will fall, and the Government has been taking action to tackle challenges related to the cost-of-living increase. The announcement of Budget 2023 contained a list of measures to help financially support families across the country. This included supports such as the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme II which allowed for all domestic electricity customers in the country to be allocated €600 in credits (€200 over 3 stages) to aid with reducing electricity bills for households. Supports also included a €400 lump sum in Fuel Allowance and a double lump sum in Child Benefit to all recipients of those payments. Additionally, a €470 million package was recently announced by the Government to assist social protection recipients from April to July 2023. The measures include temporary reductions in VAT on gas and electricity, from 13.5% to 9%, which will be extended to 31 October 2023.

All issues of the Data Insight Series can be accessed through this link. Previous issues researched Student Accommodation (Issue 1) and Irish Government Housing Expenditure (Issue 2). Issue 4 of the insights series released in April covers Women and Housing.

Further data visualisation resources are available on the Housing Agency’s Data Hub at this link.

This article was originally posted on the Chartered Institute of Housing website. 

In October 2022, the Irish Architectural Foundation and The Housing Agency launched the Housing Unlocked exhibition. Running until mid-February 2023, this exhibition showcased eight innovative ideas to unlock housing delivery in Ireland. With over 25,000 visitors, this was a very popular event with practitioners and the general public.

On the 31st March, The Housing Agency held an event aimed to investigate the possibility of translating these ideas into practical actions that could provide new homes. The ‘Housing Unlocked - Making it Happen’ event involved presentations of each of the eight ideas to a targeted audience of housing practitioners. The presentations were followed by panel discussions and audience contributions to discuss the potential of realising these proposals.

The panels were made up of the following experts in housing, local government and planning.

Panel 1
• Robert Burns – Director of Services, Housing, Fingal County Council
• Sarah Neary – Principal Advisor, Built Environment, DHLGH
• Joan McMahon – Senior Architectural Advisor, DHLGH
• Karen Kenny – Senior Advisor, Planning, DHLGH

Panel 2
• Claire Feeney, Director of Services and Inclusion, The Housing Agency
• Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, Housing, Mayo County Council
• Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Dublin City Council
• Stewart Logan, Senior Planning Advisor, DHLGH

To read a report of the event please visit this link: Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen Event Report.

To read the official Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen document, which outlines the eight proposals and summarises the actions required to turn these ideas into reality, please visit this link: Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen.

 

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, 17th April 2023

Housing First successful in ending long term homelessness

- High sustainment rate of 86% a key indicator of the success of the programme, according to The Housing Agency -

 

The tenancy sustainment rate for Housing First tenants is 86 per cent, demonstrating the positive impact of the programme in addressing long-term homelessness. That's according to The Housing Agency where the Housing First National Office is based.  Today (17th April 2023) the Housing First National Office are holding a conference exploring the impact of the programme while also raising key themes aimed at supporting front line staff in Local Authority, HSE and homeless organisations since the introduction of Housing First Nationally in 2018.

 

Housing First aims to eliminate homelessness for people with a history of rough sleeping and long-term use of emergency homeless accommodation. Tenants of Housing First will have complex needs around mental health, substance use, physical health, and other social and behavioural challenges. It provides direct access to permanent housing, together with intensive tenancy and health supports delivered in a wrap around team mainly in the person’s home.

 

Since the introduction of Housing First in Ireland 865 tenants have been supported, with 240 tenancies created in 2022 alone.

 

Commenting ahead of the conference, Rob Lowth, National Director of the Housing First National Office, said: "Housing First is a person-centred approach to helping people who are experiencing long-term homelessness and who may require additional supports. By providing people with a stable and secure home first, we can then work with them to help them to overcome other issues they may face. The fact that almost ninety per cent of the tenants we have supported so far have been able to sustain their tenancy proves that the Housing First programme is effective and gives the individuals an opportunity to be housed in some cases for the very first time.

 

"The Housing First National Office looks forward to continuing supporting both the Statutory and NGO sectors to support Housing First tenant and reduce long-term homelessness."

 

The theme of the Housing First conference taking place in Athlone today and tomorrow is "Where would Ireland be without Housing First". Speakers include:

• Dr. Sam Tsemberis, who founded the Housing First programme in New York in 1992:
• Dr, Ronni Greenwood, University of Limerick, who conducted the national evaluation of Housing First.
• Mr. Joe Doyle, HSE National Social Inclusion Office, whose work focuses on ensuring the required health supports are in place to support Housing First tenants.

 

Further information about Housing First is available here: https://www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/housing-first

 

ENDS

 

Contact: Sorcha MacMahon / Emily Brennan, Alice Public Relations, Tel: 087-7585337 / 086-1658629, Email: media@alicepr.com

 

Notes to Editors:

Rob Lowth, Dr Sam Tsemberis and Dr Ronni Greenwood are available for media interview.

 

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency supports the development of sustainable communities across Ireland. It works to meet the nation’s housing needs by:

• Rolling out new housing projects and co-ordinating programmes that can transform how we live. 
• Using data and research to provide evidence-based solutions.
• Advising the Government on housing policies.
• Collaborating with all those involved in the housing sector in Ireland to ensure we are working as effectively as possible. 

 

A State-funded body governed by an independent Board, The Housing Agency works mainly with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and non-profit housing providers.

 

Follow The Housing Agency on Twitter: @HousingAgencyIE.

 

The Housing Agency presents a lunchtime webinar intended to provide an overview of key governance and legal topics for multi-unit developments, and owners’ management companies. 

This event will be of interest to a wide audience- owners’ management companies, Approved Housing Bodies, residents, property professionals, and other stakeholders in the multi-unit developments sector. 

Speakers

• Henry Murdoch, retired barrister and chartered engineer, and author of Apartment Living in Ireland, A Practical Handbook for Owners, Owners’ Management Companies, and Managing Agents.

• David McCourt, Director of Asset Management & Property Services, Co-operative Housing Ireland

The 60-minute webinar will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

Registration is free of charge via this Zoom link-

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XQ6UNfKRTBO86YgySUngPw

Questions may be emailed to MUD@housingagency.ie

The session will be recorded for future use.

Places are limited to 1,000 attendees on a first-come first-served basis.

By registering for this webinar you consent for the purposes of event management to the processing by The Housing Agency of your personal data (name and email address).

Disclaimer

Information provided during the webinar is general in nature.  It should not be considered to amount to legal advice, and no reliance should be placed on it.  The Housing Agency and webinar presenters cannot be held responsible for actions or failure to act on foot of the information provided.  There may be other issues or circumstances that would influence the comments provided.  Professional legal advice might be necessary on individual circumstances.

The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme is a new scheme that is available where a tenant household faces the termination of their tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:

• is not able to purchase the property from the landlord
• is at risk of homelessness
• is not eligible for, or currently in receipt of social housing supports (that is in receipt of HAP or in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)).

Local Authorities have responsibility for the assessment of applicant tenant households in receipt of a valid notice of termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. Potential applicants should contact their local authority and make an appointment to see the Housing Officer. The Housing Officer will assess the applicant’s risk of homelessness and whether they may be eligible for social housing. When they get an appointment to meet the Housing Officer they will need to bring, (i) A valid Notice of Termination: (ii) Proof of their income, (iii) evidence that they have a long term right to reside in the country.

An applicant tenant household must have net annual income of below €66,000 per annum for Dublin and €59,000 for everywhere else in the country. Net income means that income tax, Universal Social Charge, PRSI and superannuation contributions are deducted from the relevant assessable gross income.

If the local authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS they will pass the details of the tenant and the property to the Housing Agency for consideration for potential acquisition under the CRTiS Scheme. The Housing Agency will then engage with the tenant and the tenant’s landlord with a view to acquiring the property.

If a tenant has a query about Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ they can contact the Housing Agency via email at tenantinsitu@housingagency.ie

CLICK HERE - CRTiS - A Guide for Tenants and Property Owners

CLICK HERE - Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ Privacy Notice

The Housing for All plan encourages the use of modern methods of construction to improve, support and accelerate delivery of housing. To facilitate the adoption of modern methods of construction, The Housing Agency's Procurement unit have developed a guidance document for the provision of "design and build" housing projects using modern methods of construction.

This guidance document provides a contractual mechanism for encouraging the use of Modern Methods of Construction through the use of Capital Works Management Framework, PW-CF2 Public Works Contracts for Building Works Designed by the Contractor.

In support of this strategy, the Housing Agency Procurement and Delivery Unit will also supply technical services and supports in the area of modern methods of construction.

To access the guidance document please visit: Guide for use of PW-CF2 Public Works Contract for Building Works Designed by the Contractor.

January

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage released their monthly homelessness report for December 2022, which found that 8,190 adults and 3,442 children were accessing homeless accommodation during the week of 19th December to 25th December. The “Town Centre Living” architectural design competition was launched by Minister Darragh O’Brien and President of the RIAI, Charlotte Sheridan. The Housing Agency and AHBRA appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts on 19th January to examine financial statements from 2020/21 and the Housing Agency Revolving Acquisition Fund. The Committee also met with representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 26th January. On 17th January, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage met with the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) to discuss the most recent reports of NOAC’s oversight of the performance of local authorities. The committee also met with Longford and Mayo County Councils on 24th January.

February

The Housing for All Q4 Progress Report was published during Q1 2023, which indicated during 2022 29,851 new homes were completed. Figures relating to the Voids Programme were also published, showing 2,307 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in 2022.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage held several meetings relating to the pre-legislative scrutiny of both the Marine Protected Areas Bill and the Draft Planning and Development Bill 2022. The committee heard from the following representatives throughout January: UCD, Wind Energy Ireland, Irish Environmental Network, Fair Seas Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust, Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, OPR, An Bord Pleanála, CIF, Irish Institutional Property and Property Industry Ireland.  

March

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage released their monthly homelessness report for January 2023, which found that 8,323 adults and 3,431 children were accessing homeless accommodation during the week of 23rd-29th January. From 1 March, new improvements to the local authority home loan have been introduced and prices of homes eligible for a local authority home loan have been increased nationwide as have income limits of those eligible to apply for a loan. On 15th March, the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, along with the Heritage Council, announced that 11 historic towns will share €1.3 million funding under the 2023 Historic Towns Initiative (HTI).

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage continued the scrutiny of the Draft Planning and Development Bill 2022, hearing from the following representatives: CCMA, AILG, Local Authority Members Association, Northern and Western Regional Assembly, Royal Town Planning Institute, Irish Planning Institute, Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance, residents’ associations and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

On 7th March, Minister Darragh O’Brien announced the phasing out of the winter eviction ban in accordance with the terms of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022. This Act provided for a stay on eviction notices for the period up to 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023. Minister O’Brien also informed Cabinet of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners.

Publications

15th February – ESRI –Exploring rent pressure zones: Ireland’s recent rent control regime

20th February – ESRI – Housing adequacy and child outcomes in early and middle childhood

February 2023 – NESC – Private Rental in Ireland

15th March – The Housing Agency - Multi-Unit Developments & Owners’ Management Companies: A Compilation of Writing from The Housing Agency

16th March – ESRI – The RTB Rent Index, Q3 2022

The 2023 Housing Practitioners' Conference will take place at The Strand Hotel in Limerick on Thursday, 11 May and Friday, 12 May 2023 (half day).

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien T.D., will open the Conference which will involve a day and a half of expert speakers and workshops discussing best practice and policy on housing, under the umbrella of Housing for All: Lessons from Practice.

The Conference is organised as a joint-initiative between The Housing Agency and the Institute of Public Administration.

To register for the conference visit: Housing Practitioners' Conference (ipa.ie).

The conference programme can be downloaded here: Housing Practitioners' Conference Programme.