Surveyors call for ‘radical’ action on housing crisis

The Society of Chartered Surveyors has called for a zero Vat rate for building “affordable” homes as it warned pent-up demand could mean the housing crisis will last almost 10 years.

The society published research last year, called the Real Cost of New House Delivery, which it said showed that over half of the €330,000 costs in constructing a three-bed home was accounted for by Vat, levies, infrastructure, finance costs, and a profit margin.

In a pre-budget submission, the surveyors said Vat cuts on building affordable homes, along with other “radical measures”, would help boost the supply.