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Home Truths: Vacant Homes in Cork

Home Truths: Vacant Homes in Cork explores vacancy rates across Cork – particularly long-term vacancy, and the reasons for vacancy as record numbers of people remain stuck in emergency accommodation.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) Census 2022 identified 17,055 vacant homes across Cork on Census night. These do not include holiday homes, derelict houses, dwellings under construction or homes where the resident is temporarily absent.

4,902 of these homes are long-term vacant since Census 2016, of which 2,269 are longer-term vacant since Census 2011.

2,954 of all vacant homes identified are rental homes, of which 641 are long-term vacant rental homes since Census 2016.

There is a significant discrepancy between the thousands of vacant rental properties on Census night 2022 and the number of rental properties available to rent around the same time.”

"It doesn't make sense to have all the people out on the street when there's houses sitting there with no function."

– Ronan

Sophie Johnston summarises the key points from our
second Home Truths paper: Vacant Homes in Cork.

Read Sophie’s Home Truths Blog
  • There are 32 vacant homes across Cork (city & County) to every adult in homeless emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There are 9 vacant homes in Cork city to every adult in emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There are 5 vacant rental properties across Cork to every adult in emergency accommodation.
  • There are 2 vacant rental properties in Cork city to every adult in homeless emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There are 9 long-term (7+ years) vacant homes across Cork (city & County) to every adult in emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There are 2 long-term (7+ years) vacant homes in Cork city to every adult in homeless emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There is 1 long-term (7+ years) vacant rental home across Cork (city & County) to every adult in emergency accommodation in Cork.
  • There is 1 long-term (7+ years) vacant rental home in Cork city to every 5 adults in emergency accommodation in Cork.
"There's lots in certain areas. It's very upsetting. How many lives could be saved? Upsetting when you know there's people needing them."

– Yvonne

Cork Simon’s ‘Home Truths’ series aims to offer insights into different aspects and experiences of homelessness in the Southwest, drawing on publicly available data and supported by personal experiences of Cork Simon service users.
See our other ‘Home Truths’ HERE.