Work begins on Cork houses left vacant since being built in 2000s

The homes were originally under the ownership of Cork County Council, but after the city boundary extension in 2019, they should have been transferred to Cork City Council. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Works have begun on three council-owned properties in Glanmire, Cork, which have been vacant since they were built in the mid-2000s.

It was revealed earlier this year that three properties in private housing estate Copper Valley Heights had never been occupied.

The homes were originally under the ownership of Cork County Council, but after the city boundary extension in 2019, they should have been transferred to Cork City Council.

Last month, a spokesperson for Cork County Council said the delay in transferring the homes was due to a legal dispute linked to a developer going out of business and an outstanding charge on the property. 

However, a measure had been put in place to allow Cork City Council to use the homes even before the transfer is completed.

The spokesperson said that while work was ongoing to remove the charge and complete the transfer, Cork County Council’s legal team had put a licence agreement in place with the city council allowing it to take possession of the homes, refurbish them, and let the units in the interim.

Work was required to bring them up to a standard that would allow them to be lived in. They includes the floors, which are unfinished.

Labour’s John Maher asked at Monday’s meeting of Cork City Council for an update on the three empty homes and was told that these works have commenced.

He was told by the council’s acting director of housing, Adrian Quinn: “Cork County Council remain the owners of these properties presently.

“The county council are actively endeavouring to resolve final legal issues with title and the formal disposal of the properties to Cork City Council is awaited, subject to resolution.

“Cork City Council has commenced remedial works on the properties, in anticipation of formal disposal, having entered into a licence agreement with the county council to take possession and prepare the properties for use and occupation.” 

Mr Maher told The Echo: “Tonight’s response is a step in the right direction, and I’ll continue to work with officials to get these houses on the choice-based letting system and people living in them.

“Three empty houses is a sin, especially in a housing crisis. Bureaucracy and red tape needs to be thrown in the bin and families living in these houses as soon as possible, even if we allow them to be lived in while we sort the bureaucracy and legal issues around these homes. 

"I’ll keep working with council officials to get these homes lived in.”