'I am 51, and the rental crisis may force me to emigrate'

Despite having a well-paid job, Cristina Galvin tells Sarah Horgan she has no money left to save to buy a home after paying her rent, leaving her trapped renting

Cristina Galvin fears that Ireland’s rental crisis may leave her with no choice but to emigrate.

At 51, Cristina Galvin fears Ireland’s rental crisis may leave her with no choice but to emigrate.

It's a situation she never imagined while working to improve her employment prospects in the UK. Cristina had moved to Wales in 2017 to gain experience in trauma services before returning home to her native Galway four-and-a-half years later. 

Despite a well-paid position working as a university counsellor, she finds it impossible to balance paying rent with saving. 

Pressure in the rental market has forced the Galway City resident to reassess her future. Cristina is currently paying €1,150 for a one-bedroom property which is set to rise to €1,200 in the coming months.

Cristina explains she initially moved home to be close to family.

“A job had come up with a student counselling service in Galway. I did part of my training there. It looked like a really good salary but I would be better off in Wales on a lesser salary without having all my money going on rent. I can’t even afford to put my name down for a house. I am trapped renting.

She said the situation was a source of “major stress.” 

“For the first time in my life I thought I would be able to relax around finances. Instead, it’s had the opposite effect. It’s been a major stress and that’s why I sometimes think that maybe I’m better off emigrating. 

There has been a lot of talk about people in their 20s and 30s being unable to buy or rent but there are people older than that too. I do have shame around it. 

"The talk around the subject generally is that you have done something wrong which feels deeply unfair. This is a systemic failure. Shelter is a basic human right.” 

Ms Galvin said the Government must act.

“I am beyond outrage. I am despairing. It leaves you feeling like you don’t have a place in society. I’d be looking to move somewhere where you are more respected as a person. This is why I am looking into other possibilities. 

"There are reasons why so many kids are moving to Australia and New Zealand. There are better conditions, better pay and better housing. I have been seriously considering New Zealand.” 

She said the cost-of-living crisis had added to difficulties for renters.

“Nobody ever expected the prices of gas and electricity to go up so much as they did. The hike in grocery cost was not expected either. Then you have the rent on top of that.” 

Cristina spent nine months searching for accommodation before finding a place to rent.

Cristina Galvin: 'For the first time in my life I thought I would be able to relax around finances. Instead, it’s had the opposite effect. It’s been a major stress and that’s why I sometimes think that maybe I’m better off emigrating.'

"If I knew the extent of the housing crisis at home I don’t think I would have moved because the rent is well over double what I was paying in Wales and it’s maybe triple what I was paying for a prime location in Salthill in a prime location in 2017. 

"The housing stock is so limited in terms of one- and two-bedroom apartments. While searching for a place to live I did feel discriminated against. I looked at so many different places. 

"Of course, it’s in a landlord’s interest to make sure the rent is paid. That why two wage earners are normally favoured over a single person. It’s understandable because they want security but it can make life very difficult for a single person looking to rent.”