RTB Rental Sector Survey Reports provides important comparative information and key insights for the Private Rental Sector
- RTB Rental Sector Survey Reports 2023, commissioned by the RTB and undertaken by Amárach Research, is the second phase of one of the largest and most extensive pieces of research ever undertaken on the private rental sector in Ireland, covering the perspective of small, medium and large landlords, tenants, and letting agents.
- This research is based on a nationally representative face to face survey with 1,200 tenants, over 800 telephone surveys with landlords, 143 web-based surveys with letting agents in addition to focus groups and interviews with research participants.
- The first phase of this research started in 2019, and the reports were published in 2021. These reports now allow comparison between the two different time periods.
- 13 December 2023: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has published the Rental Sector Survey 2023 Reports together with a summary report.
The purpose of this research, commissioned by the RTB and undertaken by Amárach Research is to establish an evidence base of data around the actions and intentions of landlords, tenants and letting agents across a range of thematic areas including - experiences in the rental sector, future intentions of landlords and tenants, profile of landlord and tenants, awareness of rights and responsibilities and rating of experiences of living and operating in the private rental sector.
Some of the insights from the quantitative and qualitative research include:
- Over 80% (83%) of tenants surveyed indicated that they were ‘positive/very positive’ about renting their current property, 14% were neutral and 3% were ‘negative/very negative’. This is in line with the research published in 2021.
- The median amount spent on rent by tenants surveyed (excluding bills, service charges etc) was 30% of monthly net income (after tax). This is in line with the research published in 2021.
- There is an upward trend in rents amounts being paid by tenants surveyed. This trend is evident both in Dublin and outside Dublin. However, 69% of tenants surveyed stated that their rent had not increased since the tenancy commenced, compared to 75% in the research published in 2021. Half of those tenants renting for five years or longer compared to 60% in the research published in 2021.
- Nearly half (49%) of tenants surveyed expected to be homeowners in ten years’ time. This is in line with the research published in 2021.
- Overall, the small landlord experience has remained positive in 2022. The relationship with tenants in 90% of tenancies is rated as ‘very positive/positive’. Fewer than one in ten (7%) tenancies achieve a neutral rating and only a small minority (3%) are perceived as ‘negative/very negative’.
- Nearly half of all rental properties acquired by small landlords were purchased with an owner occupier mortgage. This is in line with the research published in 2021.
- The profile of small landlords is getting older. 79% were aged 45 and older (68% in 2021) and the average length of time they have been a landlord was 12.38 years (10.32 years in research published in 2021).
- Almost half (49%) of all small landlords surveyed own their rental dwelling outright, up from 39% in the research published in 2021.
- As part of this research, medium and large landlords as well as the letting agents provided additional insights on the private rental sector including experiences in the sector, attitudes towards regulation and future intentions.
Speaking on the release of the reports, Director of the RTB, Niall Byrne commented: 'The RTB is highly committed to providing accurate information, research, data and insights. The RTB Rental Sector Survey reports published today provide important information which enhances the understanding of the profile as well as the concerns and intentions of landlords, tenants and letting agents in Ireland. This type of comparative research is important in identifying and monitoring trends across the rental sector. This research, together with insights gathered from the analysis of RTB register of tenancies demonstrates how the RTB is becoming an authoritative source of the types of reliable information required to inform policy.'
The first phase of this Rental Sector Survey research project began in September 2019 and was completed in December 2020. The second phase of the research project began in April 2022 and was completed in July 2023 and followed the same methodology to allow for robust comparability of results. This phase included a nationally representative face to face survey with 1,200 tenants across 150 sampling points, more than 800 telephone surveys with landlords, 143 web-based surveys with letting agents, and in-depth interviews medium landlords, large landlords and letting agents, as well as focus groups with tenants and landlords to supplement the research.
RTB Rental Sector Survey Reports 2023 can be accessed on the RTB website here.
For further queries, please contact:
Aimée Millar
media.queries@rtb.ie
(085) 179 2469