‘Embodied Carbon and The Climate Impact of our Housing’ is a report prepared for the Housing Agency by Philip Comerford, an architect in private practice in Dublin and a researcher in UCD.

The housing crisis and the climate crisis are intertwined, and we cannot solve one without addressing the other. Current regulations in Ireland focus mainly on the emissions created by the running of buildings, known as operational carbon and measured through the Building Energy Rating system. Less well understood is the carbon emitted through the construction and maintenance of buildings, known as embodied carbon. 

This research addresses this gap by assessing the embodied carbon emissions of different dwelling types at a range of scales and densities, from individual houses to duplex dwellings and apartments. 

An innovative aspect of the study is that in addition to measuring the environmental impact of dwellings themselves, the surrounding neighbourhood is also considered together with its external landscaping and road infrastructure. 

By gaining an understanding of the climate impacts of current building practices, strategies for a decarbonised housing sector are then proposed. This evidence-based knowledge will provide developers, policy makers and housing stakeholders with a platform to imagine the low-carbon communities of the future.

Read the report here

‘Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile of Applicants for Social Housing and Recipients of Housing Assistance Payment’ is written by Dr Clíodhna Bairéad and Professor Michelle Norris. It examines and compares the profile of households that have qualified for social housing and those in receipt of HAP.

It finds that HAP claimants tend to secure a social housing tenancy faster and in greater numbers than their counterparts on the social housing waiting list. HAP recipients waited an average of 135 weeks before they secured a social housing tenancy, compared to an average waiting time of 286 weeks for social housing applicants.

The most significant influence on HAP claimants’ faster and greater access to social housing is likely due to their household size matching the size of social rented dwellings available. The HAP claimant population contains a higher proportion of larger households (three or more people) compared to households on the social housing waiting list, a majority of whom are one-person households. Most of the existing social housing stock is suitable for larger households.

The report also finds that for a significant minority of applicants, their acute housing needs remain unmet for far longer than the norm. This cohort comprises primarily of working age, mainly male, single person applicant households. Applicants in this category tend to have uniformly low incomes, indicating that they are primarily reliant on social security benefits and rarely have income from employment. The numbers in this category on the social housing waiting list have increased significantly in recent years with the report suggesting this is likely because they wait longer to secure a social housing tenancy due to the lack of suitable housing available.  

The report’s authors say their analysis highlights the need to ensure that the size of dwellings provided better matches the size of households on the social housing waiting list.

Read the full report here 

The Housing Agency has today published an overview of Lived Experience Roles in Ireland whereby people with first-hand experience of a topic support service users.

The report looks at where there are paid lived experience roles across Ireland, what training is available for people in these roles and examples of good governance in lived experience organisations.

The research relates to paid lived experience roles in four sectors – disability, homelessness, mental health and social inclusion.

It identifies 78 organisations with more than 430 paid lived experience staff around the country, most of whom work in mental health or social inclusion. A range of training is provided to staff.

The research identifies policies and practices from lived experience organisations, including ensuring adequate organisational preparation before onboarding lived experience staff, prioritising the psychological safety of staff and involving lived experience throughout an organisation’s management.

Read the report here

The Climate Action Roadmap produced by The Housing Agency aims to communicate how The Agency will meet the requirements of the Climate Action Mandate and reach the 2030 carbon and energy efficiency targets set out in The Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25). The Climate Action Plan 2025 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.

The Public Sector Climate Action Strategy was published in March 2023 and focuses on the governance required to support public sector decarbonisation. This strategy runs to the end of 2025, to align with the end of the first carbon budget period.

This Roadmap will be reviewed and updated annually within 6 months of the publication of the Climate Action Plan.

Read the full report here.
 

A report commissioned by The Housing Agency has found that while reference rent systems can help stabilise rents and improve affordability, their success depends on a number of factors including robust data infrastructure and adequate enforcement mechanisms.

Reference Rents: International Perspectives and lessons for Ireland was authored by Dr Joe Frey, Visiting Professor at Ulster University. The report looks in-depth at the operation of reference rents, primarily in Germany and Northern Ireland, to assess their relevance and applicability to the Irish context.

It finds that Germany uses a “Mietspiegel” (Rent Mirror), a detailed database of local rents based on property characteristics, which serves as a benchmark for setting legal rent limits. The Mietpreisbremse (Rent Brake) restricts new rents to no more than 10% above the local reference rent in designated areas. While the system is data-driven and transparent, it faces challenges such as enforcement difficulties, legal loopholes, and high administrative costs. Moreover, landlords often find ways to circumvent the rules, and some withdraw from the rental market.

In Northern Ireland, although there is no formal reference rent system, the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) acts as a de facto reference for tenants receiving housing benefits. However, LHA rates often fall below market rents, limiting its effectiveness. Recent legislation allows for rent freezes and reductions, but implementation has been minimal due to political and practical constraints.

The paper concludes that while reference rent systems can help stabilise rents and improve affordability, their success depends on robust data infrastructure, legal clarity, stakeholder cooperation, and adequate enforcement mechanisms. It finds that Ireland would need to invest significantly in data collection and administrative capacity to implement such a system effectively.

Read the full report here.

The Housing Agency was asked to undertake a review of the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system. The Agency reviewed potential options for rent regulation in Ireland and whether they should be continued, adapted removed or replaced. The Housing Agency submitted its report to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at the end of April. It identified a preferred option of modifying the current RPZ system.

The review examined the introduction, operation, and evolution of RPZs within the wider context of rent regulation in Ireland and internationally. It involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the Residential Tenancies Board.

The review found moderation of rents due to the existence of RPZs, however, tenants outside RPZs have faced higher rent increases. The review also noted international research on rent control which suggests that controlled rents deliver price reduction to sitting tenants but may lead to higher initial rents for new tenants. This may impact on tenant mobility and investment in maintenance and refurbishment by landlords.

Read the full report here - Review of Rent Pressure Zones Report

Final Report Appendices here - Report Appendices 1 - 6

The Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2024 brings together information provided by local authorities on households in their functional area that are qualified for social housing support but whose social housing need is not currently being met. It is a point-in-time assessment of the identified need for social housing support across the country.

Purpose of the Assessment: This is a statutory assessment to count the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country on 4 November 2024, in order to better inform policy and plan for the delivery of the right types of housing support.

‘Net need’ or the total number of households qualified: This is the total number of households qualifying for social housing support whose social housing need is not being met. All the figures in this report are based on net need. The methodology used to produce these figures is outlined on pages 16-18.

Criteria: Households must be qualified for social housing support. Households currently living in local authority rented or Approved Housing Body (AHB) accommodation, or accommodation provided under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or the Social Housing Capital Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) or any household on a transfer list, are not included in the total number.

From 1 January 2023, an increase of €5,000 applied to all social housing income thresholds. These thresholds are now €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for Bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively (see gov - Social Housing Support: Table of Income Limits (www.gov.ie)- Opens in new window for full list of income thresholds by band and local authority).

Read the full report here - Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2024

When complete, Cherrywood in south Dublin will be the largest Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in the history of the State with some 10,500 new homes accommodating a population of around 26,000 people.

As the largest undeveloped landbank in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) area, and the largest of all 11 SDZ projects in Ireland, Cherrywood SDZ presents unique challenges, particularly in coordinating significant infrastructure across multiple landowners.

A new Housing Insights paper by The Housing Agency examines the progressive steps taken by DLRCC and its key stakeholders to ensure that infrastructure is plan-led, phased and strategically provided to support Cherrywood's development.

It shows how physical infrastructure is key to unlocking land for development, including water and drainage facilities, transport infrastructure, utilities and waste management. Social infrastructure - such as parks, schools and other shared amenities - can then be provided in tandem with the physical infrastructure. Both types of infrastructure are key to realising the concept of a "10-minute neighbourhood".

Read the full report here - Housing Insights Issue 5 Supporting Sustainable Communities