The latest figures show the housing stock in Donegal grew by 2% between 2016 and 2022, from 83,931 to 85,990.
That’s according to the most recent Census 2022 release from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The figures also reveal the number of vacant dwellings here decreased during the same period by 18%, from 11,704 to 9,615. Meanwhile, the number of holiday homes in the county rose by 11%, from 11,288 to 12,485. Nationally, the housing stock grew by more than 5% from 2,003,645 to 2,112,121. The number of vacant dwellings around the country fell by almost 20,000 (-11%) to 163,433 and the number of holiday homes rose by 8% from 62,148 to 66,956.
Owner-occupied
In April last year, 43,107 of homes were owner-occupied in Donegal, compared with 42,210 in April 2016. The number of homes owned with a mortgage or loan fell by 10% from 16,335 to 14,712 since Census 2016, while the number of homes owned outright (without a loan or mortgage) increased by 10%, from 25,875 to 28,395. Homes rented from private landlords showed a 13% increase from 7,393 to 8,377. Nationally, 66% of homes were owner occupied. Some 531,207 homes were owned with a mortgage or loan, while almost 680,000 homes were owned without a mortgage or loan, which was up 11% from 2016. More than 330,000 homes were rented from a private landlord, an increase of 7% since 2016.
There was a significant increase of 83% (up to almost 17,000 households) in the number of over 65s renting from a private landlord in the State. In Donegal, the number of homes rented in the 65 and over age group was 632 (a 77% increase). In the 60 to 64 age group, it was up 71% compared with 69% nationally.
Census 2022 shows that by the age of 35, more than half of householders in Donegal owned their own home (with or without a mortgage or loan). Nationally this age was 36. This age, which marks the changeover between home ownership and renting, has been increasing over time, up from 26 years in 1991, 27 years in 2002, 28 years in 2006, 32 years in 2011, and 35 years in 2016.
Rent Increases
Renters have continued to face large increases in the amount of rent they pay. Between the 2016 and 2022 censuses, the average weekly rent paid to a private landlord in Donegal in April 2022 was €134, a 29% increase on 2016. The average weekly rent paid to a private landlord (at national level) rose to €273, up €73 (37%). This was more than double the rate of increase (17%) between 2011 and 2016.
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