2014-04-22 - Socio Economic Review 2014 - Full text and cover - FINAL

Table 7.7- Length of time on record of qualified households
Length of time Number of Households %
Less than 6 months 11,696 13
Between 6 and 12 months 9,645 11
Between 1 and 2 years 14,436 16
Between 2 and 3 years 13,841 15
Between 3 and 4 years 11,986 13
Between 4 and 5 years 10,449 12
Between 6 and 7 years 9,765 11
More than 7 years 8,004 9
Total 89,872 100
Source: Housing Agency (2013:11)
The need for housing in Ireland is currently at an intolerable level. These numbers
represent the most vulnerable people in Irish society. Social Justice Ireland has
repeatedly highlighted the unacceptable level of progress being made in regard to
counteracting this issue; it is imperative that swift and significant action is taken to
address this current state of affairs.
The private rented sector
Traditionally, the private rented sector has been the residual sector of the Irish
housing system, characterised by poor-quality accommodation and non-secure
tenure at the lower end of the housing market. Today, this sector is highly
differentiated, with high-quality housing and relatively secure tenure at the upper
end of the market and low-quality housing and insecurity of tenure at the lower end.
Reliance on this sector as a housing option fell to its lowest point of 7 per cent in
1991. Since then, however, it has risen substantially. The census of 2011 showed that
almost 19 per cent of all households were renting from a private landlord (table 7.8).
The private rental sector is increasingly becoming the tenure of choice for a
substantial number of households (see table 7.8) as well as being viewed as means
by which to address social housing provision.
7. Housing and Accommodation 153