Most under 35s believe they will never own their own home, PTSB report finds

Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership 2026 report shows 43% of people would consider social housing

Most Irish people under 35 now believe they will never own their own home, according to a new report by Permanent TSB published on Monday. Picture: Unsplash

Most Irish people under 35 now believe they will never own their own home, according to a new report by Permanent TSB published on Monday.

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

The PTSB Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership report surveyed 1,000 adults in Ireland. The research found that, 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.

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 10 respondents think that house prices will continue to rise and that future generations will face even greater hurdles to homeownership.

“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," said PTSB chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Leontia Fannin. 

The report said almost half of mortgage holders (47%) are considering switching mortgage provider, up five percentage points since last year's report

Concerns about the economy have risen, the report found, with 53% of respondents 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%.