Average time to re-let refurbished social homes in Cork county reached 51 weeks in 2023 

Lengthy waits to re-let social housing and high levels of vacancies in council-owned homes in Cork, compared to elsewhere in Ireland, are highlighted in a report published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC).

The NOAC performance indicator report looked at the percentage of local authority-owned dwellings that were vacant at the end of 2023.

Cork County Council had the second-highest rate of vacant houses at 5.38%, up from 4.82% the previous year, while Cork City Council had the eighth highest percentage at 3.36%, compared to 3.7% in 2022.

The average number of weeks to re-let a dwelling stood at 51.97 weeks in the county, up from 49.82.

In the city, it took on average 32.49 weeks to re-let a dwelling — down considerably from 58.53 weeks in 2022.

Jude Sherry and Frank O’Connor, who run Derelict Cork and Anois, said that it was good to see Cork city nearly half their re-let times. However, they noted they are still high.

“There are still too many metal hoardings across the city, which are having a negative impact on everyone living there — including many children without a home or living in insecure accommodation,” they told The Echo.

On the long waits to re-let homes and the vacancies these lead to, they suggested “many interiors are being ripped out unnecessarily”.

“Many would prefer a home as soon as possible, rather than having to wait for these often unnecessary changes,” they said.

'Immediate steps needed'

Social Democrats leader and TD for Cork South West Holly Cairns said no house should be lying vacant “in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the history of the State”.

She said housing and rental prices are “through the roof”, and the rate of homelessness is climbing every month.

“Every day, I’m contacted by people across Cork who are in complete distress due to the lack of affordable and social homes. Many have been on the housing list for years,” Ms Cairns told The Echo.

“Imagine the difference it would make to people’s lives if these homes were made available?”

The security it would provide children [and] the safety it would provide families living in cold, damp rental accommodation.

“Both Cork City and Cork County Councils need to answer for these appalling vacancy rates, and announce immediate steps to release these homes to families on the social housing list.”

Social housing stock in city 

Her party colleague, Cork City South Central councillor Padraig Rice added: “The total number of social homes owned by the council is increasing at a glacial pace.

“The council started 2023 with 10,418 homes and, by the end of the year, it was 10,598. This is an increase of 180 homes.

“Given that there are 3,546 applications for social housing, we have to be building far more new homes each and every year.”

While he welcomed the “significant improvement” in the re-letting times in the city, he pointed out that it takes just 22 weeks in Dublin.

“With so many people homeless, it’s very frustrating to see hundreds of council houses boarded up,” he said.

Drop in vacancy level in county 

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said that it “accepts that the figures for vacant houses and the length of time taken to re-let refurbished dwellings at the end of 2023 were higher than normal.

“This was due to a number of factors and was largely addressed in the early part of 2024. New processes have been put in place and the vacancy level is currently 2.5%.”