PTSB research reveals continued shift in attitudes towards Homeownership

• 61% of under-35s considering social housing to secure a home
• Proportion of people who believe they will never be in a position to buy a home falls to 39%, down by 4% pts
• 47% of mortgage holders are considering switching provider

A majority of under-35s are now considering social housing and long-term renting in a bid to secure a home amid ongoing housing pressures, according to PTSB research.

The Bank’s annual Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership 2026 report shows that attitudes towards Ireland’s housing situation are rapidly evolving, with 61% of under-35s considering social housing and 55% of the same cohort looking at long-term renting as ways to secure a home. The research also shows that over half (52%) of under-35s believe they will never be in a position to buy a home.

According to the research, there has also been a significant increase in people considering switching mortgage and looking at ways to reduce monthly repayments.

Key findings from nationwide survey of homeowners, renters and prospective first-time buyers:

• The proportion of people who believe they will never be in a position to buy a home has fallen to 39%, down by 4% pts. However, the picture is notably different for younger generations, with 52% of under-35s believing they will never be in a position to buy a home.
• A significant increase amongst 25-34 year-olds considering social housing, up 9% pts to 61%; overall 43% of people would consider social housing, unchanged from last year. One in four renters, who previously had not considered social housing, are now open to it.
• Long-term renting is not seen as a suitable option for a large majority of people, with less than a third saying long-term renting suits people like them. However, 55% of 25-34 year-olds say it suits people like them.
• Almost half of mortgage holders (47%) are considering switching mortgage provider, up 5% pts since last year. Awareness of ways to reduce monthly mortgage repayments has also increased, with more people aware of potential savings from switching providers, up 15% pts to 50%; knowing their Loan to Value ratio, up 10% pts to 33%; and improving their Building Energy Rating (BER), up 5% pts to 44%.
• Sentiment towards Ireland’s housing market remains negative with 72% expressing concern about the current situation, slightly higher than last year (69%). Over nine in ten respondents think that house prices will continue to rise and that future generations will face even greater hurdles to homeownership. It points to a possible lag between public sentiment and data from the Central Statistics Office which shows a notable cooling in house price inflation more recently.

Other key findings from the research include: 

The Buying Journey

• Property price remains a key factor, identified by 69% of buyers, while having a garden (26%), energy efficiency (24%) and proximity to family (23%) continue to influence decision-making.
• Saving for a deposit remains the most difficult stage, with 47% saying it is difficult, although perceptions have improved somewhat compared with 58% last year, 11% pts lower.
• Family support is playing an increasingly important role, with around half of first-time buyers (49%) expecting assistance through gifts, loans or inheritance.

Retrofitting and Energy Upgrades

• There is a significant increase in those who plan to retrofit their home once the remaining amount of their mortgage is paid (72%), up 11% pts from 2025.
• Awareness of BER ratings is improving, with 50% of mortgage holders knowing their BER, up from 46% last year.
• Solar panels represent the largest gap between ambition and action, with 62% planning to install them but only 19% having done so.
• Cost remains the most significant hurdle to retrofitting, but 73% say additional grant support would make them more likely to proceed.

Consumer Sentiment

Concerns about the economy have risen, with 53% expecting economic conditions to worsen over the next 12 months, up from 45% last year. The proportion of people expecting economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months dipped to 16%, from 20%.

Cost of living remains the dominant concern, selected by 78% among people’s top three issues, while the price of housing ranks next at 50% and access to affordable healthcare comes in third at 35%.  

Despite these concerns, personal sentiment remains mixed, with 20% who say they are better off than this time last year compared to 38% now reporting they are worse off.

Leontia Fannin, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at PTSB, said:

“Our Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership research highlights the challenges that continue to shape people’s housing decisions. While concerns about the housing market remain high, it is encouraging to see a fall in the number of people who believe homeownership is completely out of reach.

At the same time, the findings show a clear shift in attitudes among younger adults, many of whom are increasingly considering alternatives such as long-term renting and social housing. This reflects the reality of today’s housing market and the hurdles many people continue to face on their journey to homeownership.

The research also shows that mortgage holders are becoming more proactive in managing their finances, with growing awareness of the options available to reduce monthly repayments, including switching mortgage provider and making overpayments, and a greater focus on energy efficiency, retrofit supports and awareness of loan-to-value ratios.”

Claire Cogan, Director at BehaviourWise, said:

“The findings point to a clear psychological shift in how people are thinking about home ownership. For many younger adults, the traditional path to buying is no longer viewed as straightforward or guaranteed, and that is influencing what they see as realistic, acceptable or achievable. The increased openness to long-term renting, social housing and more flexible housing options suggests that people are broadening their definition of housing security in response to the market around them.”

For media queries, please contact ed.micheau@ptsb.ie | 086-8037155

The PTSB Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership report was conducted by Core Research and surveyed 1,000 adults aged 18+ living in the Republic of Ireland. Fieldwork was carried out between 18 May and 8 June 2026. The sample is nationally representative based on age, gender, region and social class, with a margin of error of ±3.02% at the 95% confidence level.

All year-on-year comparisons are from February 2025 to June 2026 unless otherwise stated.

Access the full report here.