Hair and make-up artist Noel Sutton is a 40-something father of four. A gay man who describes himself as a city slicker, he has been renting in Dublin's city centre for 11 years.

"Part of our culture has reared us to want to own our own space. But for me it's affordability versus quality of life. I explored buying but do I spend my life living on a shoestring or do I enjoy a better quality of life and remain renting? Unless I happen to win the Lotto I'm happy with the latter as my lot.

"I'm in my current place three years and have an excellent relationship with my landlady in that she doesn't bother me and I don't bother her. I don't have a physical long-term lease but we do have a verbal agreement. I told her I was interested in renting the space for five years. My rent has remained static for the past three years."

With four sons aged between 16 and 21, a sofa bed is an essential piece of furniture. It also facilitates his mortgage-laden out-of-town friends who don't or can't get home and come calling looking for a place to crash.

Financially, he claims greater freedom by not being bogged down with a mortgage. "I'm self-employed so one month's pay is never the same as the next. Cash flow can be a problem so not having to worry about a mortgage payment every month works for me. I suppose you could say I'm a rent boy at heart!"

PROS: Greater financial freedom, greater choice of accommodation, greater social life.

CONS: Repairs don't get done as quickly as I might like