Councillor: Social issues the only legitimate reason for turning down council house

The only acceptable reason for turning down the offer of local authority housing is social issues, according to one Cork councillor.

Elected officials have been reacting to weekend reports that more than 150 offers of social housing in the Cork County Council catchment area were turned down last year.

Up to 347 offers were made, but 164 homes were rejected for reasons including that a house was built on a hill which could be slippy in winter; because there was no playroom; and because a property was not spacious enough for an American-style fridge.

John Mulvihill Junior, Labour councillor for Cobh Town Council said the council has to adhere to strict housing standards, the same as any other landlord, and the housing stock is in excellent condition.

He said: "The only legitimate reason I could see is that there could be social issues, maybe there have been some family clashes or something.

"The council have to meet standards when they are offering housing, they are like every other person renting houses and you have to reach certain standards and the tenants have certains rights.

"It gets very frustrating when I read in the papers some of the county council issues, that people have turned down a house because it is on a hill and it might be icy during the winter."