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

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 requires organisations to report on their hourly gender pay gap across a range of metrics. From 2022, organisations with over 250 employees began reporting on their Gender Pay Gap. Now, organisations with over 150 employees are being asked to report on their Gender Pay Gap for the first time in 2024.

2024 is the first year that The Housing Agency will report on its Gender Pay Gap.

The gender pay gap is the difference in the average hourly wage of men and women across a workforce. The gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay. Employment Equality legislation provides for equal pay for like work. All male and female employees in The Housing Agency are paid equally for work that is the same or similar or for work of equal value, therefore this report does not examine equal pay.

Read the report in full here - Gender Pay Gap Report 2024.

Meaningful engagement with households is the greatest predictor of a successful Traveller-specific accommodation scheme, according to the authors of a new report.

The report, Good practice in the development and design of Traveller-specific accommodation, was commissioned by The Housing Agency to research and prepare draft guidelines on good practice on the appropriateness of location, scale and design of Traveller-specific accommodation, for the Minister at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The research was undertaken by a consortium led by desiun Architects with the support of the Public Policy Advisors Network.

 The report’s authors make a number of recommendations, including that funding should be provided for early, meaningful and consistent engagement with Travellers in the planning and development of Traveller specific projects.

This engagement should be undertaken before design work commences and should continue during design development. A high degree of involvement from Travellers with the design development should be sought, as well as inputs for the management and maintenance of the site, and a strategy for allocations.

The report also recommends that new sites should be located where amenities are close by and, generally, not in peripheral or isolated locations.

Read the full report here - LINK

For many disabled people, independent living can be assisted with peer support.

Peer support is a supportive relationship between people who have shared experiences. It is based on the knowledge that disabled people are experts in recognising the barriers they face and the means in which such barriers can be tackled.

As part of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People, The Housing Agency has examined national and international examples of peer support models and explored what supports are currently available in Ireland and how, if necessary, they can be adapted or expanded to assist disabled people to live independent lives in their community.

The report, Peer Support Models, Examining models both nationally and internationally,  finds that the value of lived experience has been acknowledged as an integral component in assisting marginalised groups such as disabled people to live independently.

Read the full report here

The National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland - Residential Satisfaction Report 2023 has been launched. 

The study measures householders’ satisfaction levels with their homes and neighbourhoods and investigates their aspirations for future housing.

The national study commenced its first wave in 2018, the second wave was conducted in 2019 and the third took place during pandemic restrictions in 2020.

The report presents the findings of a nationally representative survey of 1,212 householders in Ireland and qualitative focus groups, with a further 47 householders as part of the fourth wave of the National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland.

You can read the report below:

National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland

National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland - Accessible version

Examination of innovation/ efficiencies in design of affordable housing is a report jointly prepared by The Housing Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The report highlights how quality affordable housing can be most effectively delivered by demonstrating innovation and efficiencies in construction and design.

The research was carried out by Bucholz McEvoy architects.

Purpose of Report

This report serves as sequel to The Housing Agency report "Social, Affordable & Co-operative Housing in Europe", which featured case studies from Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark into innovations in design and construction of social, affordable and co-operative housing in Europe. 

The 12 Irish case studies are situated in Dublin, Galway and Limerick, encompassing small (up to 50 units), medium (50 – 150 units), and larger schemes (150 plus units). There are 4 additional EU case studies from Austria, France and the Netherlands which provide a broader perspective and alternative approaches to innovation and efficiencies in design. The report explores the case studies through 5 themes - Strategy, Layout, Materials, Delivery and Occupation. A specific project focus is included within each case study which provide insights into key design decisions or processes integral to the project’s development.

In addition, the report outlines two projects that highlight delivery methods and efficiencies for affordable housing through a comparison of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on a live sample basis.

You can read the report in full here - Examination of innovation/ efficiencies in design of affordable housing