Cork property listed on Airbnb received €70,000 in public housing grants
The house, located on Grattan Hill Lower, was derelict until two years ago, when it was completely renovated, with work part-financed by public grants designed to bring vacant homes into the long-term rental market.
More than three months after Cork City Council launched enforcement proceedings over a house advertised on Airbnb despite receiving €70,000 in public grants intended to support long-term rental accommodation, the property is still being offered as a short-term let.
The owner of the company managing the property said he has not received notice of any enforcement action. However, Cork City Council has reiterated that proceedings remain under way.
The house, located on Grattan Hill Lower, was derelict until two years ago, when it was completely renovated, with work part-financed by public grants designed to bring vacant homes into the long-term rental market.
That renovation was undertaken by Powell Property, which is owned by Micheál Powell, on behalf of one of the company’s clients.
In social media posts in September 2024, filmed before the property was renovated, Mr Powell said his company had bought the property on behalf of a client.
In the videos, Mr Powell said he was then in the process of availing of Cork City Council’s vacant property grant, adding: “The grant stipulates that you need to stay in the [long-term] rental market for 10 years”.
“If you break the 10-year agreement, there [are] clawbacks from the council. It has to be made available for rental for 10 years, so we’re providing a net housing gain into the market.”
Powell Property availed of a €50,000 vacant property grant and a €20,000 derelict property top-up grant, both of which were allocated dependent on the property being registered with the Residential Tenancies Board and becoming a long-term rental property for a minimum of 10 years.
The property separately availed of a €22,000 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant to upgrade its energy rating.
The property has been advertised on short-term letting website Airbnb since at least October 2025, and three neighbours have separately said it is an Airbnb short-term let.
When the called to the property, a man staying there said he had rented it through Airbnb.
No planning permission for short-term letting has been sought on the property, even though under the Planning and Development Act 2000, this constitutes a material change of use.
In rent pressure zones such as Cork City, specific permission for such changes of use has been required since 2019.
The property is featured on at least two separate Airbnb listings, with photos edited to make the rooms appear different, and outside the front door is a lockbox fitted for key collection by guests.
Mr Powell said his company had leased the property in good faith for €2,100 per calendar month on a 12-month contract and the tenant was in breach of the terms of that lease.
“We’re not in the business of short-term lettings; we’re in the business of long-term tenancies,” he said. Mr Powell said he has more than 950 properties on his books “and they’re all on long-term solutions”.
He said he is engaged in a case with the Residential Tenancies Board and that process could take “up to nine months”. The has attempted unsuccessfully to contact the tenant.
Mr Powell said he had received no notice of an enforcement action from Cork City Council, but a council spokesperson again confirmed there was “an open enforcement file in relation to this address”.
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