Just 2% of Irish homes built in last five years

Just 2 per cent of the 1.7 million occupied homes in the State were built in the last five years, according to the latest census data, reflecting the near-complete collapse in construction after the crash.

The figures show that only 33,436 housing units were constructed between 2011 and 2016.

This compares to 431,763 dwellings built between 2001 and 2011, which account for a quarter of the State’s entire housing stock.

The fall-off in housing supply since 2010 has resulted in an acute housing and homelessness crisis across Ireland.

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The census numbers show there were only 5,700 flats and apartments in purpose built blocks added in the Dublin City area, the most built up area in the capital, during the five-year period, bringing the total to 60,349.

Similar additions were recorded in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (+2,435); South Dublin (+1,744); Fingal (+1,683); Cork City (+1,356) and Limerick City and County (1,206).

Price acceleration

Two recent reports, from property websites MyHome.ie and Daft.ie, blamed an acceleration in property prices this year on the lack of supply.

While the Government’s housing strategy is centred on scaling up supply to around 25,000 units a year, some experts believe demand may already exceed 40,000.

The census figures show there was an increase of 48,257 housing units (2.9 per cent ) during the period, while most of this figure is comprised new builds, a certain portion reflects formerly vacant dwellings becoming occupied.

Purpose built flats and apartments showed the largest increase of any dwelling type, rising from 149,921 in 2011 to 172,096 in 2016, an increase of 14.8 per cent or 22,175 units.

The percentage of occupied housing units in Dublin City that were flats or apartments was now put at 34 per cent.

Detached houses comprised 42.1 per cent of the total housing stock (715,133 dwellings) and remained the most popular dwelling type, increasing by 15,264 during the period. Semi-detached dwellings increased by 15,297 (3.3 per cent) and accounted for 471,948 dwellings.

The proportion of owner-occupied households, meanwhile, fell from 69.7 per cent in 2011 to 67.6 per cent in 2016.

Mortgage or loan

Looking at owner-occupied households in more detail it can be seen that the number of households that owned their home with a mortgage or loan decreased by 47,473 (8.1 per cent).

Conversely, the number households that owned their home outright increased by 45,101 (8 per cent).

There were an additional 22,323 households living in rented or rent free accommodation in 2016, an increase of 4.7 per cent on 2011.

The biggest increases in the number of renters were in Cavan (+ 12.8 per cent) and Kilkenny (+ 11.2 per cent).

Since 2011, the average weekly rent paid across the country grew by 14.8 per cent to €156 while households living in private rented purpose built flats and apartments paid the highest rent at an average of €229 per week.

There were 50,535 households in Ireland who paid more than €300 rent per week.