New research states that the majority of the Irish population, specifically two-thirds, live in homes that are excessively spacious for their needs. According to a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), the typical dwelling in Ireland is more extensive than its counterparts in the EU with an average of 5.5 rooms compared to 3.7. After excluding renters from the “over-occupancy” data, it drastically rises to 80%. Only a third of EU residents live in homes larger than required.
It could be easy to associate this to the common McMansion effect in Ireland, where rural areas are dotted with oversized, distinct houses. These places, with sharp lines and a profusion of columns, seem to mock those who will never achieve homeownership.
However, it is not just rural areas, as city homes in Ireland also exceed average space requirements. As per the ESRI, “Ireland has one of the highest rates of under-occupancy in urban areas.” The wide-reaching McMansion is only one clear representation of the underlying planning crisis.
The ESRI proposes that under-occupancy may stem from specific cultural norms such as the favouritism for houses over flats. Perhaps it’s less about cultural likings and more about inadequate planning. The ESRI report plainly states that larger families need more rooms and smaller households require fewer rooms.
This poses an issue as 90% of Ireland’s housing stock comprises houses and 10% are flats with most new constructions focusing on the rental market. Therefore, 88% of Irish residents over 65 are living in homes larger than their needs. With an ageing population and three-fourths of all houses having two or more bedrooms, these figures aren’t likely to drop. Consequently, young adults in their twenties and thirties, and migrants returning to Ireland are excluded from the property market as their parents occupy large homes that are costly to maintain and heat.
Downsizing is commonly suggested as a solution but is easier said than done. My family, in fact, succeeded in this when my parents sold us their family home six years ago.
The initial inquiries typically revolve around the emotional aspects – how my parents felt about the transition, the nostalgia of dwelling again in the house I was raised in. They were prepared to relocate, and they had been contemplating to scale down their living conditions for some time. Recently back from overseas, we were residing in a small, temporary holiday home, devoting our weekends to house-hunting, a task that grew increasingly discouraging with each passing week. The charm of my childhood house was undeniable. In retrospect, it’s astounding that it took us nearly a year to arrive at such an obviously fitting solution.
The selling price was established over lunch, based on an independent property assessment, and we set ourselves a goal to make it happen by Christmas. The question remained – the new living arrangements for my parents. They sought to scale back on the number of rooms, without sacrificing their personal space or comfort. My mother, always proud of her well-tended garden, desired space to recreate her paradise. An apartment wouldn’t do, and none were available for sale locally. They also had no inclination towards a construction project, although their scarce options left them with limited choices. Given the absence of provision for downsizing incentives or even temporary loans to finance the building work, we had to stick to our strict timeline. To facilitate this, we opted for a temporary home exchange. We relocated to my childhood home from our rented place, while my parents were installed in our vacated rental, where they stayed for a few months until their renovation was completed.
A myriad of reasons could discourage older people whose children are mature and living separately from changing their residences. One notable reason is the growing possibility that adult children may not be genuinely independent, or that their independent lives are teetering on the edge of instability, on the verge of confiding in their parents once more to escape a nightmare landlord experience. Facing the stressful task of moving, the limited supply of smaller properties like bungalows or petite townhouses, coupled with potential costs even for downsizing within their own community, pose challenges.
The government ought to begin supporting those who are contemplating downsizing. Planning for housing should accommodate all aspects of life – from young families to retirees, couples, and single individuals, instead of solely constructing flats to satisfy the temporary needs of affluent tech employees. This could potentially involve providing a financial boost or grant for potential downsizers to manage the purchase and sale discrepancy.
For my parents, a full-blown building project and double house-relocation within a span of six months made the process more challenging than necessary. However, looking back after half a dozen years, it’s clear that no one harbours any regrets about our decision. Our inter-generational home exchange proved to be a remarkably practical resolution. Moreover, the unquantifiable joy derived from the feeling of continuity is worth noting. Knowledge that this weekend, our traditional Easter Sunday lunch will be held at the same dining table as always brings comfort, with the only difference being my husband is now the one overseeing the preparation of the roast meal.