Housing levels fall to historic low, new survey finds
Advertised stock in Tipperary down almost 20%
Sherry FitzGerald Research's latest bi-annual analysis highlights a critical shortage in available housing stock, reaching a new historic low.
In January 2025, just 10,380 second-hand properties were listed for sale nationwide, representing a mere 0.5% of Ireland’s private housing stock. This marks a stark decline from 54,120 available properties, when data collection began in January 2010.
This latest analysis reveals a decline of 6.1% when compared to January 2024 and a more significant 49% reduction over the past five years. In January 2020, approximately 20,330 second-hand homes were available for purchase.
Marian Finnegan, Managing Director of Sherry FitzGerald, emphasises the urgency of the situation, stating: “The acute shortage of available housing continues to deepen the imbalance between supply and demand in Ireland, exacerbating challenges for individuals and families seeking suitable homes.”
The shortage of second-hand homes is particularly pronounced in regional and rural Ireland. Several counties have seen a sharp decline in advertised stock compared to January 2024:
Leitrim: i 30.1%
Waterford: i 21.5%
Tipperary: i 19.8%
The long-term trend is even more concerning. Since January 2020, the number of second-hand homes listed for sale has fallen by over 60% in counties such as Leitrim, Tipperary, Clare, and Westmeath.
The 2024 new dwelling completions fell short of expectations, with just 30,300 new homes delivered to the market. This construction activity was largely concentrated in Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), which accounted for 50% of all completions. However, Ireland’s growing population requires significant and evenly distributed housing development across all regions.
Ms Finnegan further stressed the importance of increasing supply in rural areas, stating:
“Rural and regional Ireland continue to face severe housing shortages, making it essential to prioritise new housing delivery outside of major urban centres to ensure sustainable growth and economic balance.”
The shortage of homes in lower price categories remains a major concern. Properties priced below €200,000 have declined by 29% year-on-year, with just 1,775 properties available nationwide. This scarcity disproportionately impacts single-income households and lower-income buyers, further emphasising the need for affordable housing solutions.
Housing stock shortages are evident across all four provinces:
Connacht: down 13.4%
Munster: down 5.5%
Leinster: down 4.7%
Ulster: down 1.1%
In Dublin, available stock in January 2025 stood at 2,590 units, a marginal 0.2% increase compared to 2024, still representing just 0.5% of the city's private housing stock. Variations exist across local authorities:
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown: down 12.8%
Fingal: down 1.9%
Dublin City: down 1.3%
South Dublin: down 23.4%
In conclusion, Ms Finnegan welcomed the renewed focus on the housing crisis by the new Government, stating: “Addressing this unprecedented housing shortage requires a collaborative effort across all sectors.
“Urgent, strategic action is needed to ensure the delivery of sustainable housing solutions that meet the diverse needs of our population, across all regions.”