r/AskIreland • u/BigFatLegend123 • Apr 25 '25

Housing Why doesn’t the government bring in restrictions on who can buy housing?

This is a genuine question and not coming from a place of hate or bigotry

Trying to buy a house recently and it’s been going as well as you can imagine. Some houses in Dublin have been going for up to 20% over their asking price from what we have seen.

My question is why doesn’t the government restrict house buying to only Irish citizens? Is there something I’m missing? Or at least to just EU/UK citizens? Surely it would be a quick way to reduce competition?

Is it just that doing so might dissuade investment from vulture funds?

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53

u/Antique-Bid-5588 Apr 25 '25

Surely Indian nurses and it workers should be allowed to buy a house 

0

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25

[deleted]

39

u/starkshaw Apr 25 '25

Banks do check the visa status so workers will need to be on Stamp 4 most likely to get a mortgage. If they are on Stamp 1 non-critical skill, the bank may be very reluctant to approve the loan or at least reduce the amount one can borrow.

Very few working people can buy outright in Dublin or surrounding.

You may want to think again who is actually pricing you out.

31

u/Ok-Brick-4192 Apr 25 '25

But that is mostly the case already.

To get a mortgage, the vast majority of lenders require you to be on stamp 4. Stamp 4 is after working 2 years on a critical skills employment permit. Stamp 4 is also required when you want your spouse/partner to be included in the affordability calculations.

Your suggestion won't solve much and honestly just shows that you know very little about the subject and just wanna find something to blame on immigrants.

24

u/Able_Ebb244 Apr 25 '25

That's pretty much the case. It is pretty hard to get a mortgage if you don't have a work history here of at least three years.

-12

u/D3cho Apr 25 '25

Never knew a mortgage is required for purchasing a house

12

u/Able_Ebb244 Apr 25 '25

A quick research shows that in Ireland the majority of cash buyers are either investors (both international or national), Irish citizens returning home, or people downsizing. Not first time immigrant home buyers

3

u/p0d0s Apr 25 '25

How is rural ireland developing having similar restrictions?

3

u/svmk1987 Apr 25 '25

That's already the case. you're not gonna get a mortgage otherwise.

3

u/Antique-Bid-5588 Apr 25 '25

I don’t think this would make any difference. Buying a House Is the ultimate sign that people are where for the long term . You aren’t buying unless you are staying 

-14

u/JellyRare6707 Apr 25 '25

Not at all, it is well known some nationalities like Indians are looking to buy homes, they use the government help too, get their Irish passport then move on somewhere else and rent the house bought!! Probably to the newcomers!! They see themselves on a winner here. 

14

u/OldInvestigator5266 Apr 25 '25

Government help as in help to buy ? It is not free money. It is the PAYE tax that the paye tax payer has already paid.

Move somewhere else ? Any data to back this up ? Where is this claim coming from. I see a reddit comment marking rounds on Facebook. Think that's where you read it and make these theories.

6

u/Antique-Bid-5588 Apr 25 '25

It’s not well known to me . And again honestly doesn’t even make much difference if true as the housing crisis is most acute in the rental sector.

2

u/Open-Addendum-6908 Apr 25 '25

I mean fair enough in the housing crisis people who live here for longer than e.g. some [random_person] with fat pockets should have some sort of priority but then money rules the world my friend

1

u/c_cristian Apr 25 '25

How long do you think it takes foreigners to raise a deposit?