Corporate Moving and the Hidden Cost of Housing Insecurity

Introduction 

When organisations think about corporate moving, the focus often falls on logistics—flights, shipping, visas, and office setup. But there’s one critical factor that too often goes overlooked: housing.

Without a secure, verified, and timely housing arrangement, the entire relocation process can become unstable. For employees, housing insecurity leads to stress, distraction, and financial strain. For employers, it causes productivity loss, delayed starts, and even failed hires.

This blog explores how inadequate home relocation services create hidden costs for businesses—and what HR teams can do to prevent them.

What Is Housing Insecurity in the Context of Corporate Moving?

Housing insecurity in corporate relocations refers to:

• Employees arriving without confirmed long-term accommodation
• Reliance on expensive temporary housing for extended periods
• Falling victim to scams or misleading listings
• Inability to meet local documentation or guarantor requirements
• High competition for limited rentals (common in cities like Dublin, London, and Amsterdam)

It doesn’t just affect junior staff. Even experienced professionals can struggle in unfamiliar markets, especially if relocating from abroad.

The Business Impact of Housing Delays and Disruptions

When an employee doesn’t have stable housing, it affects more than just their personal comfort. Here’s how it can ripple through the business:

1. Reduced Productivity
   An employee who’s spending evenings apartment-hunting or dealing with rental fraud is not fully focused at work. Mental load matters.
2. Delayed Start Dates
   Some employees postpone their start dates until housing is sorted. In worse cases, they decline offers entirely after a stressful experience.
3. Early Attrition
   A poor relocation experience leads to higher dropout rates within the first 6–12 months of employment.
4. Reputational Risk
   Bad employee relocation stories—especially in sectors like tech and finance—damage employer brand and candidate referrals.
5. Increased Cost of Temporary Housing
   Every extra week in a hotel or short-let apartment adds hundreds (or thousands) to your relocation spend.

Common Causes of Housing Insecurity During Corporate Relocation

• Market pressure: In cities like Dublin, available rentals often receive dozens of applications within 24 hours
• Lack of local references: International employees may not have credit history, previous landlord references, or PPS numbers
• Fraud risk: The rise of online rental scams targeting newcomers and international employees
• Information gaps: New hires may not know which areas are safe, affordable, or commutable
• Over-reliance on DIY search: Expecting employees to manage the rental process alone—especially under time pressure—can backfire

How to Mitigate Housing Risk with the Right Support

The key to avoiding these pitfalls lies in early, structured, and localised housing support. That’s where PropSupport comes in.

As a housing-first relocation partner, we help companies move employees securely, quickly, and affordably by removing the guesswork from the home search.

PropSupport’s Housing Services for Corporate Moves

Our home relocation services include:

• Guided rental search with local area expertise
• Scam prevention education and landlord vetting
• Document templates and lease review
• Access to pre-screened properties
• Optional in-person or virtual onboarding assistance

Whether you’re moving five analysts from Germany to Dublin, or onboarding a remote developer relocating to Cork, we ensure they land with a roof over their head—and peace of mind.

The ROI of Preventing Housing Insecurity

Here’s what companies gain by investing in better relocation housing support:

• Faster time to productivity: Employees who aren’t house-hunting are better focused at work
• Improved retention: New hires who feel supported stay longer
• Lower costs: Avoid unnecessary hotel stays and reduce internal HR time spent troubleshooting
• Better onboarding outcomes: A calm, supported relocation journey leads to higher engagement
• Stronger employer brand: Happy employees become brand advocates and referral sources

Who Benefits Most from Housing-Focused Relocation Services?

• Early-career professionals moving to a new city
• International employees relocating on short notice
• Staff without local networks or rental references
• HR teams managing multiple relocations at once
• Any business hiring into competitive markets like Dublin, Munich, or Barcelona

Don’t Let Housing Be the Weak Link in Your Move Strategy

Relocation should be an exciting step—not a stressful one. But when housing is left to chance, the move becomes a liability.

PropSupport offers a better way to relocate employees: by ensuring secure accommodation from the start, and delivering the support they need—without the high cost of full-service relocation packages.

📩 Ready to improve housing outcomes for your corporate moves?

Speak to us today at info@propsupport.com or call +353 1 529 2756 to learn how PropSupport can help reduce housing risk and improve relocation success.