‘State is paying for substandard homes’: 80% of HAP properties inspected in Cork city last year failed

New figures have shown that 80% of properties rented in Cork city with the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) failed inspection last year.

HAP is a social housing operated by local authorities which supplements rent for people with a long-term housing need. The properties are rented from private landlords, with the council paying all or some of the rent.

Figures provided by Cork City Council show that — of 1,791 inspections of HAP properties carried out in 2024 — just 348, or 20%, ed.

Overall, 10,279 inspections of private rental properties were carried out last year by Cork City Council, with 5,198, or just over 50%, ing.

There were 8,488 non-HAP private rental properties inspected, with 57% of them ing. This means HAP properties were almost twice as likely not to be compliant.

Sinn Féin councillor for Cork City North West, Michelle Gould, said that the figures show that the HAP system is “broken”, telling The Echo: “The long-term impacts of living in homes that are mouldy and damp has been shown time and again. It is particularly damaging for children and older people.”

“Last year, the State spent over €2bn on HAP. That this is being paid for homes that are below standard and failing inspections is completely unacceptable,” she said.

“Many of the people in HAP properties want permanent, secure housing. Instead, they are left in substandard homes for years on end, with the State paying huge sums to investment funds and large landlords.

“When 80% of properties are failing inspection, there is clearly a huge issue.”

Ms Gould added that she is regularly sent images of HAP properties that are “substandard and unfit”.

However, she said the inspections can still cause huge stress for tenants as “an unsuitable home is better than no home”, due to the housing crisis.

REGULATIONS

The private rental inspection unit in Cork City Council’s housing directorate is responsible for the inspection of privately-rented accommodation, including HAP, and enforcement of regulations ensuring that rented dwellings comply with minimum standards.

These regulations include specific requirements for areas such as structural condition, sanitary facilities, heating facilities, food preparation and storage, and laundry, ventilation, lighting, fire safety, and refuse facilities, as well as gas, oil, and electricity installations.

Failure to comply may result in the owner of the property being served with an improvement notice or prohibition notice, or possible prosecution.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council told Ms Gould that “large improvements” have been achieved both in the number of properties inspected and the percentage of properties achieving compliance.

Since 2022, when a total of 5,936 HAP and non-HAP properties were inspected and just 951 ed, the number of properties inspected has almost doubled, and the number ing has more than tripled.

Ms Gould called for Cork City Council to publish a report outlining its plans to address the high failure rate.

TD for Cork North-Central, Thomas Gould, said that Sinn Féin has long proposed an NCT-style system for the rental sector.

Under this, houses would be inspected before they become someone’s home, and they must meet a minimum standard to be rented out.

“It is a simple system that would prevent substandard accommodation, and would protect renters, including HAP tenants,” he said.

“The average rent in Cork city is now more than €25,000 a year. People are paying this money for homes that are mouldy, damp, and need real maintenance. That is not good enough.”