Social housing rent increases may be needed, Cork City Council warns
Cork City Council has warned that social housing rent increases may be necessary to fund a new maintenance programme. Tenants' groups have expressed strong opposition to the proposal, citing concerns over affordability.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the tension between local government budget constraints and the need to maintain affordable housing for vulnerable populations.
Cork City Council operates a differential rents scheme, which was introduced by Philip Monahan, the city’s first manager, a century ago. This means rent payable is calculated on the household income and will reduce or increase based on fluctuations in income when notified to the council. Picture: Larry Cummins
Donal O’Keeffe Tenants’ groups have reacted strongly against the suggestion that rent increases might be in prospect for some of Cork City Council’s thousands of social housing tenants.
The council’s deputy chief executive, Brian Geaney, warned that rent increases might be necessary to finance changes to the delivery of maintenance but that any such changes would be “poverty proofed”.
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