Maybe, but, for example, average household sizes have decreased significantly in the last 30 years. It's gone from 3.34 people in 1990 to 2.75 people in 2022. There are 1.9 million households in Ireland so that decline alone accounts for 335,000 homes. That's a hundred billion Euro worth of homes at todays costs.There is only 1 answer to the housing crisis. Build more houses!
Maybe, but, for example, average household sizes have decreased significantly in the last 30 years. It's gone from 3.34 people in 1990 to 2.75 people in 2022. There are 1.9 million households in Ireland so that decline alone accounts for 335,000 homes. That's a hundred billion Euro worth of homes at todays costs.
Why can't we have more intergenerational households? What's wrong with moving in with Granny?
Because any common area would be wrecked by a bad tenant who is impossible to remove and you will get zero support from authorities.Nothing! In fact I know several people who tried to do that but couldnt find any suitable properties - only one achieved it, by moving quite far away.
Other questions;
- Why can't we build houses with basements that could be convertible to room space
- Why can't we mandate that all apartment complexes have basements that act as garden sheds for people who want to live long term in apartments but also have active / cluttered lives
- Why can't we build big continental style 8ish story housing blocks covered in playgrounds and other amenities, connected to the heart of the city with endless tram line options
- Why can't we build american style retirement villages people in their 60's+ would be delighted to move to with their friends and increase traditional housing stock churn
- Why can't we build co-living developments that dont cost the same as standalone house/apartment rents
etc.
Is there an opportunity to use tax breaks and increases in property tax for under populated households to encourage people to live in intergenerational homes?Because any common area would be wrecked by a bad tenant who is impossible to remove and you will get zero support from authorities.
So would incentivising and supporting people to move back towards that more traditional living arrangement by improving the care packages and home help and increasing the grants for changing the house to accommodate elderly residents be cost effective?One of the issues with intergenerational houses is care, in the past, the woman/wife was often at home so was able to act as primary care giver for elderly parents or parent in laws. In my own case, that's how my 2 grannies were cared for as my Mam and an aunt on the other side never worked outside the home. The same applied for most of my neighbours and friends families as well (and I'm just stating simple facts of the past here in rural Ireland)
Nowadays, with most women working outside of the home, that option isn't there and the care packages from the HSE or private providers is simply inadequate in many cases.
There are 500,000 more people to move in with granny. At the same time as having smaller households, we've both increased minimum room and home sizes for each type AND gained a lot more children, returned emigrants and immigrants.Maybe, but, for example, average household sizes have decreased significantly in the last 30 years. It's gone from 3.34 people in 1990 to 2.75 people in 2022. There are 1.9 million households in Ireland so that decline alone accounts for 335,000 homes. That's a hundred billion Euro worth of homes at todays costs.
Why can't we have more intergenerational households? What's wrong with moving in with Granny?
One of the unspoken reasons for Finland's success in reducing its unpalatable level of homelessness in the late 1980s from over 20,000 to very little now, is that they realised that homes in urban areas were being built too large, which made them more expensive. They reduced sizing minimums, and you can buy a studio with about 25m2 in urban cities for about 160k. OR rent it. Compensated for this by having more shared services in blocks like laundries, secure bike parking and saunas.While I'd agree that building more is part of almost any answer - we are increasing the population after all - it isn't just a case of build more houses. Building more of different types. Look at continental style smaller single person apartments around the 20-25m size. There are loads of people who would jump at places like that given the only similar option is house sharing.
Strengthening the ability for apartment owners to turf out the bad tenants is also needed. One bad tenant in a block can destroy the quality of life of everyone else, and there is currently next to nothing that can be done.
I don't disagree with you but the main driver for decreasing household size is not increasing room size. We actually have 1,500,000 more people to house; the population in 1991 was 3.534 million. It's now in excess of 5.1 million and rising.There are 500,000 more people to move in with granny. At the same time as having smaller households, we've both increased minimum room and home sizes for each type AND gained a lot more children, returned emigrants and immigrants.
What's wrong with moving in with Granny?
Don't we all but a bit of social engineering through the tax system to encourage better utilisation of out 1.9 million homes wouldn't go amiss.Because as much as she/he loves you, they like their own space.
Absolutely, we need small studio apartments. If I had the choice between that or even a bedsit and sharing a house with strangers I know what I'd prefer.Walking around Ikea last week with my Daughter and I was admiring the compact studio room, and how practical it was, My Daughter who lived in Korea for a stint says her Apt was even smaller and was perfect for her time there.
One of the issues with intergenerational houses is care, in the past, the woman/wife was often at home so was able to act as primary care giver for elderly parents or parent in laws. In my own case, that's how my 2 grannies were cared for as my Mam and an aunt on the other side never worked outside the home. The same applied for most of my neighbours and friends families as well (and I'm just stating simple facts of the past here in rural Ireland).
Nowadays, with most women working outside of the home, that option isn't there and the care packages from the HSE or private providers is simply inadequate in many cases.
As for building more houses, that's a partial but simplified solution, we need to build communities with facilities, not lines of rabbit hutches but we also need to think outside the box and see how we support families in other means in a practical and sensible manner
Don't we all but a bit of social engineering through the tax system to encourage better utilisation of out 1.9 million homes wouldn't go amiss.
We'll build 25,000 units this year. Since 1991 the reduction in household size has consumed an average of over 10,000 units a year without housing a single extra person. That trend has reversed slightly over the last few years due to our population increase but as supply increases it will probably revert back to the longer term trend.
Absolutely, we need small studio apartments. If I had the choice between that or even a bedsit and sharing a house with strangers I know what I'd prefer.
Absolutely correct. The amount of single FTBs desperate to buy a 3 bedroom home is exasperating. While some are thinking of renting a room in order to help with the mortgage the majority will simply become storage rooms for hoarding unless the FTB forms a family.Don't we all but a bit of social engineering through the tax system to encourage better utilisation of out 1.9 million homes wouldn't go amiss.
We'll build 25,000 units this year. Since 1991 the reduction in household size has consumed an average of over 10,000 units a year without housing a single extra person. That trend has reversed slightly over the last few years due to our population increase but as supply increases it will probably revert back to the longer term trend.
Absolutely, we need small studio apartments. If I had the choice between that or even a bedsit and sharing a house with strangers I know what I'd prefer.
Why?Also it can be hard to move on from an apartment or studio. So families end up stuck in a tiny space.
It can be hard to move on from any accommodation that is too small. I don't see that as being a reason to not build studio apartments.You can rent a room to help with costs.
Also it can be hard to move on from an apartment or studio. So families end up stuck in a tiny space.
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