HOUSING MARKET IS QUICKLY REACHING CRISIS POINT IN GOREY

HIGH RENTS, growing house prices, and lack of supply of available property, have led to a growing housing crisis in Gorey town.

Letting agent, and local councillor Joe Sullivan said that availability has plummeted. ‘As a letting agent, I have two properties available,’ he said.

There’s also the issue of rising rents, and the failure of the Council’s rent supplement to keep up with the increase.

‘At the height of the good times, the highest available rate for the rent supplement in Gorey and Wexford was €733.66, and the average rent was costing approx. €900 a month for a three or four bed house, leaving a shortfall of around €150,’ he said. ‘Now, three or four bed houses are fetching €1,000 to €1,300, and the rent supplement is at a maximum of €600, leaving people with having to come up with half the rent themselves.’

He pointed out that the top rate in Wicklow and Carnew is €770. ‘That’s totally inequitable,’ he said. ‘People on social welfare and low incomes are not able to do it, particularly families. It’s just not doable, and they are being squeezed out of the market. The rent supplement needs to be increased, and Wexford County Council should make the case very strongly.’

‘Even if the allowance was increased, the availability of property is a major issue,’ said Joe, calling for the council to be more proactive in promoting the RAS, HAP, and leasing schemes, so it can rent or lease homes from private owners.

Frank Pierce of Pierce Properties, auctioneers and letting agents, was in agreement about the shortage of supply in Gorey.

‘We’re extremely short of rental properties,’ he said. ‘We are looking for landlords. There are very few properties available for rent, and we urgently need them. Properties that come in, go very quickly.’

He added that houses are selling extremely well. ‘There is a huge demand for three and fourbed semi-detached and detached houses in the town and the surrounding area,’ he said. ‘Country properties that are priced to sell are selling fast.’

He said that prices are higher than the rest of Wexford because it is a commuter belt town for Dublin. ‘We are finding business is coming down from Dublin to Gorey because prices are so high in Dublin and Gorey is such a good vibrant town,’ he commented.

Joe Sullivan explained that one of the reasons for lack of rental supply was owners of second homes that were rented out, are now selling them because prices have recovered. ‘Availability has plummeted,’ he said.

He added that with rising rents, people are just working to keep a roof over their heads. ‘People on the social housing list are being squeezed into emergency accommodation and B&B’s.

‘People that are on low incomes and paying high rents, and are just above the income threshold for the social housing list, are working just to pay their rent, and are unable to save for a deposit. It’s a trap,’ he said. ‘The first thing that needs to be done is to raise the threshold.’

Supply of houses for sale is also a problem. Niall Slattery of Warren Estates said there is a shortage of new homes in Gorey town. ‘There are properties outside the town, but if you are a young couple and want to be close to services, then there is a shortage,’ he stated.

He said he finds that a lot of young couples who have the down payment for a house, are working in Dublin where salaries are higher. ‘Local people who might be doing unskilled work and are renting are not able to save,’ he said. ‘The skilled young professional is okay. A good few of these have been buying in the last couple of years.’

Niall said that house prices have increased significantly this year, but haven’t returned to what they were at the peak of the market.

He said several builders have been refused planning for large projects on zoned land this year, and more guidance is needed from planners as to where they want the town to go.

The only solution to the rental crisis that Joe Sullivan can see is for the local authority to build more social houses, and to build affordable housing. ‘The council needs to buy land in Gorey because it has none available,’ he commented. ‘The private sector will not solve the current housing crisis, nor should it be expected to.’

He also believes the Council should have a quicker turnover time when properties come available.

A public meeting will be held in the Loch Garman Arms on Wednesday, September 27, at 8 p.m. with an independent chairman, to give people on the Gorey housing list a chance to have their voices heard. Around 800 people are on the Gorey list.

Wexford County Council recently launched a repair and lease scheme where owners of vacant residential properties are offered an interest-free loan to repair or upgrade their property and bring it up to the required standard for rented accommodation. Once the repairs are complete the Council will lease the property from the owner for social housing purposes. The minimum lease period is 10 years, with the cost of the loan deducted from the lease payments over an agreed term.