Daft Daft

EVERY WEEK, WE bring you all the news you need to know about the property market.

The Big Movers

Housing and Homelessness report released 

The government has been advised to build at least 10,000 houses every year, to allow local authorities to buy properties from investors and to give rent certainty to people. These are some of the recommendations contained in the newly-published Housing and Homelessness Committee’s report.

Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland welcome €200 million announcement

The Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) has welcomed Minister Coveney’s announcement of a €200 million local infrastructure fund aimed at stimulating an increase in private housing in Dublin and other urban areas.

Under Construction

Barry Cronin / PA Barry Cronin / PA / PA

• The president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors, Claire Solon, has said that the shortfall in qualified graduates will threaten the ability to address the current housing crisis, according to a report in the Irish Times. 
• Dublin’s rents are making it one of the most expensive cities in Europe to live in. Rents were up 9% in the first quarter of this year, having previously increased by  more than 13% between 2013 and 2015.
• Ireland’s mortgages are high because of the low level of repossessions and the prolonged State control of banks, says the Irish Times. Spain has some of the lowest average rates in Europe and this is attributed to properties being easier to repossess there.

William Murphy William Murphy

Des Res

If you’ve always fancied a little pied-a-terre in New York, then check out the $200,000 renovation (approximately €176,800) of this gorgeous Gramercy Park home. Originally built in the 1850s it’s undergone a very modern upgrade. See what a little imagination (and a lot of money) can do.