Lowest level of vacant social houses in a decade - report
The number of vacant social housing units fell to its lowest level in a decade last year, but the number of social housing units being acquired by local authorities decreased by nearly a fifth when compared to 2024.
The number of vacant social housing units in Ireland has reached its lowest level in a decade, according to a report by the National Oversight and Audit Commission. There were 3,866 vacant units at the end of 2025, down from 4,251 in 2024, with Monaghan having the lowest vacancy rate at 0.52% and Kilkenny the highest at 5.07%. However, the total number of social housing units owned by local authorities decreased by nearly 18.78% from 2024 to 2025, with 4,324 units added to the stock in 2025 compared to 5,324 added in 2024.
The average re-letting time for vacant units remained above 32 weeks nationally, with significant variation across local authorities. Despite the decrease in new housing stock, a total of 2,671 local authority homes were retrofitted in 2025, with Dublin City leading the way in retrofits. The current pace of retrofit activity is not expected to meet the national target of retrofitting 36,500 local authority properties to a B2 Building Energy Rating by 2030.
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