Nine people deferred from Cork city social housing list for refusing offers

Cork City Council has deferred nine people from the social housing list since 2020 for refusing an offer of housing.

The social housing assessment regulations provide for the removal of an applicant for consideration for another offer through the choice-based letting system for a period of 12 months following the refusal of an offer.

The legislation states that if a household refuses a reasonable offer of a dwelling from a housing authority, it will be barred for one year from making any further choice-based letting applications to any housing authority.

Data provided to The Echo on foot of a Freedom of Information request shows that deferrals from the list have become more common.

One person was deferred from the list in both 2020 and 2022, with no deferrals in 2021 or 2023. There were four deferrals in 2024 and three in 2025.

Higher

In 2024, Cork city saw 121 total refusals, higher than every other local authority, according to data provided in the Dáil by housing minister James Browne.

He said: “The refusal of offers can have an impact on administrative processes and ultimately, can prolong the period for tenanting properties. This can mean that properties can remain vacant which is not satisfactory.”

Last year, 118 people refused an offer of housing, including two applicants who refused more than one offer, a spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo.

They said: “As Cork City Council utilise a choice-based letting system for the allocation of most available properties, it is uncommon for an applicant to receive more than one offer of housing within a 12-month period.

“The decision to defer an applicant following the refusal of an offer is made by the allocations officer who considers the household circumstances and the nature of the offer.

“It may be determined that even though an offer was refused, a deferral may not be appropriate.”