New report highlights knowledge gaps and delays in Ireland’s homebuying market
February 9, 2026
Knowledge gaps, financial pressures and delays in conveyancing are ongoing issues for homebuyers and sellers in Ireland, according to a new report commissioned by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
The research, which was carried by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and funded by the CCPC, examined the homebuying and selling market, including consumers’ understanding of their rights and the biggest stressors they face.
According to the report, two in three participants who had previously bought a property in Ireland had experienced at least one stressor. These stressors included conveyancing delays, finding problems after the sale, sellers pulling out, and spending more on costs than expected. Those who bought second-hand properties were more likely to experience stressors compared to those who bought newbuilds.
The most common stressors for both second-hand properties and newbuilds were time related. Almost 35% of second-hand buyers experienced conveyancing delays, while 27% of newbuild buyers experienced a delay in moving into their home for reasons beyond their control. Conveyancing delays was also the most common stressor for sellers (23.6%).
An experiment within the report tested how people’s bidding behaviour changes when faced with different kinds of auctions: sealed auction, bidding through estate agents and through an online platform. While all three auction scenarios pushed bids over what participants thought the house was worth, the online platform and bidding through estate agents were more likely to lead people to bid over their ideal budget than the sealed bid condition.
The research found significant knowledge gaps around rights and responsibilities within the market. While more than two-thirds knew it’s illegal for the seller to accept multiple deposits for the same property, only one in five knew that agents can legally continue to market a property that is sale agreed. Additionally, fewer than half of participants knew that a buyer could pull out of a sale without penalty before contracts were signed.
The report supports the CCPC’s previous work in advocating for buyers within the homebuying market. In 2025, the CCPC released its report into information provision in the residential property market, which highlighted the need for a new conveyancing profession to reduce delays. The CCPC has made several other recommendations aimed at improving the process of buying a home, including legislation around pre-sale information. The CCPC also has a homebuyer’s guide available on its website.
Simon Barry, director of research, advocacy and international at CCPC, said:
“We welcome the results of this report as it reconfirms the need for reform in the conveyancing space, which is currently a major stressor for both buyers and sellers.
“Buying a home is a major life decision that can be extremely complex. Mistakes and delays can be costly, and the CCPC made several recommendations in 2025 that could help alleviate the struggles homebuyers face.
“The bidding experiment also points to a greater need for financial literacy in the homebuying process. It’s very important for homebuyers to exercise caution when approaching any type of auction. Buyers need to understand the bidding system they are participating in to ensure they make the right financial choice and stick to their intended budget for what is likely to be one of the biggest purchases they’ll ever make.”
Dr Deirdre Robertson, senior research officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, said:
Return to News“The findings show that people are navigating a system they may not fully understand and increasingly experience stress, especially delays to conveyancing.
“Our findings also suggest that the most commonly used bidding systems encourage people to overbid, inflating prices.”
