Flying the nest? Nine in ten young have nowhere to fly to
Nine out of ten people aged 18-34 have a friend or family member living at home with their parents because they cannot afford to buy a house, a new survey has found.
It also revealed that 86% of young people report personally knowing someone living at home to save on housing costs. That figure rose to 92% when respondents were asked if they had a close connection with someone who had either emigrated or was planning to leave the country due to housing problems.
Worryingly, the problem has sparked an exodus of teachers, nurses and tradespeople. Although age plays a factor, more than half – 54% – of those aged 45-54 and nearly half of over-55s know someone still living at home with their parents due to housing affordability issues, the survey of 1,000 people found. When it comes to flying the nest, young people are having their wings clipped. Pic: Shutterstock
Dominic Lumsden of Peopl.ie Insurance, which was behind the study, said: 'The findings highlight how widespread the housing affordability crisis has become. Most people know someone who has no choice but to remain living at home, often well into adulthood, simply because buying a home has become so expensive.
'Overall, more than half of respondents know someone who has left and/or is due to leave the country, and more again know someone who is living with their parents – 62%. But if you drill down even further it becomes more and more obvious how acute the housing issues are amongst the younger generation. Even if the younger survey respondents are not in the position themselves, they know someone close to them who is.'
The survey also found that 54% of 18-to-34-year-olds have a close connection with someone who has already emigrated. Also, 38% of that age group have friends or family considering leaving. Dubliners were most likely to know someone who has left Ireland due to housing unaffordability at 45%, while those living in Munster were least likely at 33%. Young people can't move out of their parents' home due to the housing crisis. Pic: Getty Images
Mr Lumsden said: 'The data highlights how housing affordability is impacting people across all age groups, but younger adults are feeling it most. With nearly nine in ten 25-to-34- year-olds knowing someone still living at home due to unaffordable housing, it's clear the traditional milestone of moving out and buying a home is increasingly out of reach for many.
'This echoes the 2022 Census findings, which showed 61% of 20-to-24-year-olds were still living with their parents, up from 54% in 2011. What's particularly alarming is how housing pressures are now driving young people to leave Ireland altogether.'
The latest Central Statistics Office Population and Migration Estimates revealed more than 69,000 people left the country in the year to April 2024 – the highest level since 2015 – including 34,700 Irish nationals.
'This ongoing 'brain drain' means we are losing many of the essential workers who form the building blocks of our society – teachers, nurses, tradespeople,' Mr Lumsden added. 'The survey paints a stark picture: housing unaffordability is no longer just a personal struggle; it's a national issue that's putting real strain on our communities.'
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