Compared with other European countries, the study found that housing units in the State were “on average bigger with fewer people living in them”. In other words, the Republic’s homes have more bedrooms than the occupants require.
This inefficient use of housing was attributed to “specific cultural norms”, most notably the preference to live in houses over apartments. “This circumstance is very likely a product of the high share of houses and small share of apartments, especially in the cities,” noted the study.
If I could own an apartment like I own my home I’d be more inclined to live in one. The last apartment I lived in had downstairs neighbors that left 3 large loud dogs in their crates all day every day that barked nonstop for 18 hours a day. Management didn’t do anything about it because they had a couple months lease and the process to evict them would take longer than their lease was for (They already got their money).