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Simon Community study, Locked Out of the Market, shows the private rental crisis in Galway City and around the country.
The snapshot study, ‘Locked Out of the Market VII: The Gap between Rent Supplement/HAP Limits and Market Rents’, was conducted over three days in March 2017 (1st, 2nd, 3rd). Since the first study was conducted, nearly two years ago, the supply of rental properties available in Galway City has decreased by 73% from an average of 104 properties available in May 2015 to just 28 properties in March 2017.
Only 2 out of the average 28 properties available to rent in Galway City were within the housing support limits (Rent Supplement/Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)). These two properties were within the limits for a single parent or couple with 1 child and were one-bedroom properties. There were no properties available within the limits of the other three categories; single person, couple and couple or single parent with 2 children.
Bill Griffin, CEO of Galway Simon Community said the results of these studies have continuously highlighted the growing crisis in the private rental sector. “In the two years since the first of these studies was published, Galway’s housing crisis has not improved, people are still struggling to find affordable accommodation in Galway and around the country.”
“The average rent for a one-bedroom property during the study period was €730, it’s complete madness. When you take into account the housing support limits as well as the huge number of people looking for accommodation in the private rented market, it’s near to impossible for people relying on state support to find affordable housing in Galway”, Bill added.
The results of the latest study were published as part of the Simon Community’s Locked Out of the Market campaign for a better, fairer rental system in Ireland.
To download the full report, click here.