Executive summary
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The ask: A decision-useful menu of levers to lift housing output, activate vacant/derelict stock, stabilise the rental market, and cut homelessness — with design choices, trade-offs, and current Irish status.
What’s changed recently (2025–26)
- National rent control + tenancy reform (from 1 March 2026): Rent Pressure Zones are replaced by a nationwide cap (lower of CPI or 2%); new tenancies become 6-year tenancies of minimum duration, with no-fault evictions ended for larger landlords (4+ tenancies).
- Derelict Property Tax (announced, Budget 2026): a new annual tax administered by Revenue will replace the local-authority Derelict Sites Levy.
- CPO Activation Programme continues to push councils to acquire long-term vacant/derelict property; Compulsory Sale Orders (CSOs) remain a proposal, not yet a national power.
- Draft Rural & Gaeltacht Housing NPS (proposed policy direction agreed 30 June 2026): the draft Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing National Planning Statement is now moving to environmental assessment and public consultation, with a final statement expected by end-2026 — it will standardise how rural housing need is assessed, curb prescriptive local caps, and add Irish-language competency criteria in the Gaeltacht.
- Planning exemptions overhaul (agreed at Cabinet 21 April 2026, to be signed into law later in 2026): the first substantial update to Exempted Development Regulations in ~25 years — new exemptions for a detached unit to the rear of a dwelling, larger extensions/standalone structures (up to ~45m²), and easier attic conversions and subdivisions.
Fastest impact sits in vacancy activation (acquire + repair-and-lease, enforcement) and finance certainty; structural fixes (infrastructure-first land, cost-rental at scale, planning capacity) carry the multi-year load.
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Purpose
Summarise a practical menu of policy options to address Ireland’s housing crisis, including compulsory sale and compulsory rent/letting orders, with key design choices and trade-offs.
Objectives (what “success” looks like)
- Increase completed homes (social, affordable, and private) sustainably over multiple years.
- Reduce vacancy/underuse and speed up bringing existing stock into occupation.
- Improve rental security, standards, and affordability without collapsing supply.
- Reduce homelessness inflow and shorten time in emergency accommodation.
- Improve delivery accountability (planning, infrastructure, procurement, and governance).
Policy levers (options menu)
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Ireland status tags
- In place = existing statutory / programme lever (implementation may vary).
- Announced / legislating = committed in a Government plan or Budget 2026, but not yet operational nationwide.
- Proposed / under discussion = signalled in policy debate / programme refreshes / commentary, but not yet an established nationwide power.
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1) Activate vacant and underused homes (fast supply)
2) Increase new supply faster (planning + serviced land + delivery)
3) Scale social, cost-rental, and affordable housing
4) Improve the private rental market (security + standards + affordability)
5) Reduce construction costs and viability barriers
6) Land and speculation (value capture + activation)