October 2023
Tell me about the research you are working on?
I’m working on the fourth wave of The Housing Agency’s National Residential Satisfaction Study. We’re interested in the attitudes of householders to their homes and neighbourhoods and their housing experiences. We’re also investigating what’s important to people when planning for their future housing. The study conducts both a nationally representative survey in each wave and runs focus groups to explore key topics in depth. The study first ran in 2018 and we recently completed data collection for the 2023 wave. I’m now analysing the data and preparing the 2023 report. I’m also working on how to report such a wealth of data - to expand the range of what we report and increase its accessibility.
Why is this research important?
The National Study is important because it provides a nationally representative overview of the Irish population’s attitudes to, and experiences of our homes and neighbourhoods. It provides reliable information on many aspects of housing including housing journey, affordability and plans for future housing. It also captures data about the condition of householders’ homes, demographic data and quality of life measures. The study is unique in Ireland, producing rich datasets (see issda.ie).
Have you come across any challenges in carrying out this research?
Expect the unexpected! - in Spring 2020, pandemic restrictions meant we had to rethink how to conduct the study as we couldn’t interview people in their homes as planned. At short notice we redesigned the entire research project to move online. I think we rose to the challenge! Another challenge is the temptation to add questions in each wave. Ensuring continuity with previous waves but adapting to emerging areas of interest, such as energy efficiency, is absorbing work.
How can this research be used to inform housing policy or practice?
We use a central concept of ‘residential satisfaction’ in the study, a lens through which to focus on housing. For instance, our research since 2018 consistently evidences that owners have higher levels of housing satisfaction than renters. We dig into affordability, showing how housing costs impact householders. We look at residential mobility - past moves and future plans - and what people want from their homes in the future. The association between housing satisfaction and residential mobility increases our understanding about how housing supply matches demand.
The study is also relevant to issues including homeownership, renting in the private rented sector, social housing, housing as it affects different age groups, urban and rural planning, sustainable communities, and the link between housing and health.
What is an interesting piece of housing research you have read recently? Irish or international.
One paper that caught my attention recently is an Irish qualitative study by Bobek, Pembroke and Wickham. It found that young adults’ experience of flexible, precarious employment frequently links to housing insecurity, with forced moves that bring them back to earlier stages of their housing career.
I love the residential satisfaction literature - I’m always curious about what other researchers are investigating using this lens. And not least, I enjoy the housing research coming out of Ireland, including reports from the Agency’s Research Support Programme.