More than 15,000 offers for 75 social homes in Cork in two months

May 2, 2024 Vaseline stjohnson 0

Over two months, more than 15,000 offers were submitted for the 75 local authority houses advertised in Cork City Council’s election-based rental system.

New figures obtained under Freedom of Information legislation show that, on average, more than 200 offers are made on every available CBL property in Cork city during the eight-week period from the end of January to end of March. .

CBL is an online system that allows local authorities to advertise some of their social housing so that approved social housing applicants can express their interest.

The figures also show that 14 CBL homes in Cork city recorded more than 500 offers each.

On a housing estate in Killeens, on the city’s north side, figures show 945 offers were made on seven two-bedroom properties in the space of just a week in March, when the houses went live on the system.

Cork North-Central Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould described the data as
Cork North-Central Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould described the data as “shocking”. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central, who obtained the figures, described the data as “shocking” and said the huge demand in Cork city for safe housing is outstripping availability.

“People usually contact my office shortly after midnight, when these properties go into the option-based rental system,” he said.

“They wait up because they are desperate and because they need a place to live.

“The Government continues to tell us that they are taking a step forward in terms of housing. But the numbers just don’t add up,” he stated.

A Cork City Council spokesperson said the CBL system is not an accurate representation of housing demand because CBL applicants can bid on multiple properties.

They are not restricted to bidding only on properties in their preferred area or on properties suitable or appropriate for the size or needs of their household, he said.

“As such, anyone can bid on each property advertised during the bidding period. The CBL system is not an accurate representation of the demand or need for a property type.

“The council monitors CBL activity on a monthly basis, providing a more accurate picture of the level of engagement applicants have with the CBL system.”

He also noted that 729 social and affordable homes are currently being built and that several hundred more will be built in the coming months.

However, Gould said the construction pipeline is not enough to cope with demand, showing the Government’s housing targets are too low.

Meanwhile, in Kerry, two people in their 90s and 12 people over 80 are currently among more than 800 people on the waiting list for a one-bedroom apartment in Killarney Borough Council.

One of the people in their 90s has been on the list for 20 years but receives a rental housing assistance payment and is happy in their private rented accommodation, a Killarney Municipal District meeting heard.