Irish society risks an entire generation of pensioners on Housing Assistance Payment, a charity for the elderly has warned. 

As the price of property spirals ever upwards, growing numbers of people find themselves priced out of home ownership. 

When they retire, their incomes are slashed but their housing costs remain the same. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Alone CEO Seán Moynihan explained that retirement is significantly easier if you own your own home.

“You have your house paid for, you might have a small income, but you’re safe and you’re secure,” he said. 

“We know that house ownership on average is at 66% and the amount of older people renting over 65 has gone up 86% in the last census. 

“We all know [from] people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, that number is rising.” 

An older man counting euro banknotes. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Mr Moynihan continued that the increasing number of elderly renters will pose “big questions” for Irish society. 

“How will you be safe and secure in your housing in your old age?” he said. 

“And how will you pay the rent, if there is rent? Because we all know what happens to our income.

“Of the 44,000 older people who came to us last year, a third of them had housing issues.” 

Housing delivery

Last year, 30,330 new homes were built in Ireland - fewer than the 30,330 completed in 2023. 

The Government has vowed to build 300,000 new properties by the end of 2030 and Mr Moynihan said a significant number of them will be needed for the elderly. 

“From our numbers and our figures, of the social housing that’s being built with the National Development Plan and the cost rentals and all that, they’re talking about 340,000 houses,” he said. 

“We figure around 25% will need to go to over 65s.

“No matter how supportive a landlord is, older people are not really attractive to landlords. 

“One because, if you’re in a couple and one person dies, you lose half your income. 

“No landlord wants an over 75 to leave… That’s why the amount of social housing going to older people will need to be higher.” 

Two workers at the building of a new house. Picture by: Cum Okolo / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Moynihan added that unless elderly renters are provided with social housing, they will be forced to rent from the private sector. 

“Are we going to put a whole generation on HAP?” he asked. 

“We all know there’s no properties left for HAP.”

Main image: An old-aged pensioner. Picture by: Yon Marsh / Alamy Stock Photo