25% of people fear losing their accommodation and 90% feel new mortgage guidelines will hamper longer term prospects

Almost a quarter of tenants are living in fear of losing their accommodation, with the problem even more crippling in Dublin due to mounting rents and issues over leases, according to a new Housing Sentiment Survey.

The survey, which was conducted by NABCO (the National Association of Building Co-operatives), also found that 90% of those questioned believe tough new rules on the securing of mortgages will make it harder to buy a home.

According to the survey, one-in-five people are spending more than 40% of their income on rent, while a third of tenants say they have no formal lease agreement in place.