Housing Insights

In this episode of Housing Insights, David Silke is joined by Darren Hudson, National Tenant Engagement Manager at Respond and Chair of the Irish Tenant Engagement Network (ITEN).

Darren shares his journey from youth development to national housing
management, offering a unique perspective on why viewing tenants as partners, rather than just "customers", is the key to building sustainable communities.

Key Discussion Points

Defining Engagement: Moving beyond "transactional" housing to an "everyday" practice of relationship building.

Formal vs. Informal Participation: From community fun days and "cosy farms" to structured regional panels and board-level representation.

The Proactive Shift: Why the sector is moving from "crisis managing" groups of tenants to introducing engagement at the very start of a tenancy.

Global Context: How Ireland compares to leaders like Scotland and the Nordic countries, where tenant-run boards have existed for decades.

Regulatory Standards: The impact of AHBRA (Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority) in making tenant engagement a formal standard for housing providers.

Success Stories:

The Respond Roundup: How tenants took over the editorial control of their newsletter to share real human stories.

Empty Homes Policy: Renaming "voids" and involving tenants in assessing properties before they are re-let.

Service Improvement Groups: Turning around heated relationships through transparency and long-term maintenance planning.

 

Useful Links & Resources

Organizations & Networks

Respond

Irish Tenant Engagement Network (ITEN)

Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority (AHBRA)

 

Research & Reports

Best Practice in Tenant Engagement (Just Economics)

Developing a Tenant Engagement Culture (Housing Agency)

Tuath Housing: Embedding a Culture of Tenant Engagement

 

For Tenants

If you are a tenant looking to get involved, your first point of contact is your Housing Officer or your provider’s dedicated Tenant Engagement Team.

Is the housing crisis an Ireland-only problem, or a European emergency? In this episode, Roslyn Molloy sits down with industry expert Carol Tallon to dissect the first-ever EU Affordable Housing Plan. Following her participation at the EU Housing Summit in Galway, Carol explains why Ireland holds an "outsized influence" on European policy and what the 2025 EU Affordable Housing Plan means for housing delivery.

 

We explore the transition from traditional building to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the reform of restrictive State Aid rules, and why the European Commission is now treating housing not just as a market issue, but as a "social emergency" vital to the survival of democracy.

 

Key Discussion Points

The Irish Influence in Brussels: Why Irish MEPs and experts (like Sorcha Edwards and John O'Connor) are helping shape EU housing policy.

The 4 Pillars of the EU Affordable Housing Plan:

Boosting Supply: Focusing on new homes and innovation.

Mobilizing Investment: Unlocking a €43 billion pot through the EIB and private capital.

Immediate Support & Reform: Tackling short-term rentals and market speculation.

Protecting the Vulnerable: Addressing the "Right to Live Where You Serve" for essential workers.

State Aid Reform: How changing EU rules will allow governments to directly subsidize affordable housing and de-risk construction innovation.

The "Right to Stay": A look at rural proofing and ensuring the next generation can live and work in their own communities.

Placemaking & Technology: Carol’s PhD research on using immersive tech (VR/AR) to meet citizens "where they are at" to improve public participation in planning.

 

Resources & Links

The Housing Agency: housingagency.ie

New European Bauhaus: Official EU Website

Property District: propertydistrict.ie

Carol Tallon on LinkedIn: Connect here

European Affordable Housing Plan: The European Affordable Housing Plan - Housing - European Commission

An Overview of the Role of the European Union in relation to Housing Policy and Delivery: Overview of the Role of the EU in Housing Policy and Delivery.pdf

In this episode of Housing Insights, Roslyn Molloy is joined by Ruth O'Reilly (National Disability Authority) and Declan Gaffney (Age Friendly Ireland) to discuss the vital role of Universal and Age Friendly Design in Ireland's housing landscape.

 

Reflections on the National Strategy

A critical piece of the puzzle discussed by our guests is the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022–2027. This strategy is central to addressing the housing challenges disabled people face, specifically by:

Improving coordination between Local Authorities and the HSE to align accessible housing with necessary support services.

Promoting the UNCRPD principle of "nothing about us without us," ensuring disabled people have a seat at the table in decision-making and standard-setting.

The Housing Agency’s pivotal role in driving the implementation of these strategic goals.

 

Featured Resources & Links


CEUD Housing Guidelines:
Comprehensive guides for designing, building, and managing Universally Designed homes.


Home and Supports Hub: A central resource for information on housing options and rights for disabled people in Ireland.


UK Research on Domestic Stairs: Scientific evidence supporting how stair design (tread depth) dramatically impacts fall prevention.


Age Friendly Ireland:
Information on the Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme and local technical advisors.


www.agefriendlyhomes.ie

Housing Insights Issue 7: Cornamona Court, Intergenerational Living | The Housing Agency

Thinking Ahead: Independent and Supported Housing Models for an Ageing Population | The Housing Agency

Guest Information

Ruth O'Reilly: Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor at the National Disability Authority (NDA).

Declan Gaffney: National Technical Programme Manager at Age Friendly Ireland.

In this episode of Housing Insights, David Silke is joined by Brian Gallwey (Senior Researcher and Policy Manager) and Sinead Murphy (Head of Communications and Engagement) from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). They dive deep into the landmark legislative changes taking effect on 1st March 2026.

Useful Links & Resources

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Official Website: The
primary hub for all information mentioned in the show.

RTB Rent Register & API Tool: For
landlords to find comparable market rents and for tenants to verify rent
settings.

New Rental Law Guides (Multi-language):
Downloadable summaries available in English, Irish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese.

Housing Agency Research & Policy: Information on the 2025 report that informed these legislative modifications.

Contact Information

If you have questions about your specific tenancy
or the new rules:

RTB Customer Call Centre: 0818 30 30 37

 

Online Portal: Access the RTB Online Service Centre to submit notices of rent review or register tenancies.

In this episode of Housing Insights, host David Silke dives into the critical topic of Cost Rental in Ireland, a new housing tenure designed to address the needs of the "missing middle", those with moderate incomes who are above the social housing threshold but can't afford open market rents. David is joined by Gwen Perry, Head of Affordable Housing at the Housing Agency, who has over 20 years of experience in the housing sector.

Gwen explains that Cost Rental is a non-profit model where rent is strictly based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the home, drawing inspiration from successful long-term rental options in countries like Austria and Denmark. The discussion covers the legislative foundation laid by the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the progress of over 3,800 homes delivered to date, and the future goal of delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes. Listeners will learn about eligibility criteria, the significant advantages like security and stable, professionally managed homes, and how to apply for a scheme.

Affordable Homes Website: affordablehomes.ie (Central platform for
available cost rental and affordable purchase homes)

Legislation: Affordable Housing Act in 2021.

Cost Rental Providers:
Approved Housing Bodies (Clúid, Respond, Circle, Oaklee), Land Development Agency, and Local Authorities.