PTSB survey: 52% of under-35s say they will never buy a home

Sentiment on the housing market remains deeply negative. 72% of respondents expressed concern about the current situation, up from 69% last year. Over nine in ten think house prices will continue to rise and that future generations will face even greater hurdles to homeownership.

PTSB noted a possible lag between public sentiment and data from the Central Statistics Office which shows a cooling in house price inflation more recently.

Leontia Fannin, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at PTSB, said the findings show a clear shift in attitudes among younger adults. "This reflects the reality of today's housing market and the hurdles many people continue to face on their journey to homeownership," she said. Mortgage holders are becoming "more proactive," she added, with growing awareness of options to cut monthly costs.

Claire Cogan, Director at BehaviourWise, said a psychological shift is underway. "For many younger adults, the traditional path to buying is no longer viewed as straightforward or guaranteed, and that is influencing what they see as realistic, acceptable or achievable," she said. The openness to social housing and long-term renting shows people are broadening their definition of housing security, she added.

The full findings are in PTSB's Reflecting Ireland Housing and Homeownership 2026 report, which surveys a nationally representative sample.