'I'm 45, but can only afford to rent with housemates'

Tour guide Jennifer Manifold tells Sarah Horgan of her precarious situation whereby if she lost her accommodation, she would lose her job, while many of her friends and acquaintances are suffering the same anxiety.

Jennifer Manifold, who is still renting at 45 years old, spoke of the stress of accommodation insecurity

After years of precarious living situations, the current rental crisis continues to be a huge source of anxiety for tour guide Jennifer Manifold.

At 45 years' old, the Waterford native said the only way she could afford to rent is with two other housemates. Jennifer said she is one of the lucky ones — €500 a month is a modest sum in contrast to what many other renters are paying in Cork City. 

Jennifer Manifold: 'For many people, their life is based around their accommodation. I’m not the only one feeling like this. I don’t think many landlords could ever understand the level of anxiety that comes with this kind of insecurity.'

However, it also means she is not left with enough disposable income to save for a place for her own.

She described the situation as “depressing.” 

“I try not to think about it. I lived abroad for a while during the Celtic Tiger and can still remember people urging me to come home and buy a house. It makes me laugh to think how times have changed. 

"It’s a little bit depressing because even if I wanted to rent by myself there is no way that I would be able to with the money I’m on. This is in spite of having a full-time job. I am trapped here for now.” 

Exploring the option of renting by herself was disillusioning for Jennifer.

“For €1,200, you might get a crappy bedsit in Cork. That’s if you are really lucky. There are plenty of them that go for more. Even student accommodation that would have been €280 back in the day has since climbed to €900. I don’t know how young people even pay for it.” 

Jennifer said many renters are at risk of homelessness.

“if I don’t have this accommodation there is nothing else. There is a strong chance I wouldn’t get anything for the same price. I’m a tour guide so I don’t get a lot of money. 

I try not to think about it but like many other people I am a stone’s throw away from not having a place to live. If I lost my accommodation I would lose my job. I would lose the life I know. 

"For many people, their life is based around their accommodation. I’m not the only one feeling like this. I don’t think many landlords could ever understand the level of anxiety that comes with this kind of insecurity.”  

She said many of her friends and acquaintances are in equally precarious situations.

“I have been collecting horror stories. People I know have been asked extremely personal questions while just applying for accommodation. One of my friends was asked if he had a girlfriend and any allergies that his flatmate should know about. 

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"These are questions that nobody would have dreamed of asking years ago that landlords can now get away with it.” 

She believes the rental crisis is having a huge impact on society.

“All this is doing is creating a divide that makes poor people poorer and rich people richer. This is creating such anxiety for people. This is something that many people in a position of power would not be able to understand.”