Struggles of first-time home buyers revealed in survey

A survey issued by Mayo County Council for expressions of interest in affordable housing doesn’t capture young people who emigrated from Ireland in recent years, a local councillor has claimed.

The results of the survey, which received 133 valid responses, were discussed at a recent meeting of the council's strategic policy committee for housing. Some 71% of respondents were from Castlebar, Ballina and Westport and 124 were prospective first-time buyers. Most respondents were from two to four-person households with a preference for three-bedroom houses. Some 40% of respondents had less than €20,000 saved while very few had more than €50,000 in savings.

The council's Head of Housing Olivia Gallagher said it was clear from the survey that the affordability gap was high and that single applicants were unable to get a foot on the property ladder.

Cllr Peter Flynn said he had to admit that he did not ask anyone to fill out the survey because it would create “an expectancy”. He added that the survey did not take the viewpoint of the emigrants from Ireland into account.

“It doesn’t capture the thousands who left Ireland to Canada and Australia, maybe who have discovered that there are similar challenges there but at least there’s sunshine,” he said.

“There’s a place in Perth known as Little Westport, that tells you the cohort who have gone from here. We have so many to bring home.

“The survey re-emphasises the situation and we need a solution to get affordable housing,” he added.

Cllr Harry Barrett said the survey was “an accurate picture” and the section focused on savings proves that affordable housing will remain unaffordable to many.

“It goes to show the affordable product won’t be taken up by these people because the savings they have means its unaffordable to them,” he said. “You’ll have to clear out your savings to afford it and that will leave them living pay check to pay check. I know a young woman who has two kids and has €240 left over to afford everything, that’s what we’re dealing with.”  

Committee member Niall Dunne, who is the manager of Mayo Mental Health Association, said he wanted to see greater use of dereliction to free up property for use as accommodation.

“I’d like to see a bigger number of one-two bed houses available. There are a lot of people living at home and they don’t have the option to move on from there,” he said. “In our towns, dealing with dereliction would free up property and create a natural chain for young people to leave their home houses and that frees up the other end of the chain. There’s currently a blockage there.” 

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne added he was disappointed that the survey attracted fewer respondents than it had in the past.

“They might have a sense that nothing will happen,” he said.