Applications open as Minister for Housing officially launches first Cost Rental homes in Kilkenny

Households can now apply to rent one of the 25 new Clúid Cost Rental homes in the Cluain Glasan estate in Kilkenny City, after they were officially opened by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today.

The 25 two- and three-bed Cost Rental houses were delivered by Clúid Housing, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency, and are located in Glenveagh’s Cluain Glasan development, close to the historic city of Kilkenny. They are the first Cost Rental properties in the county.

Cost Rental is a new type of housing, designed for people whose income means they are not eligible for social housing or other support such as HAP, but who still struggle to rent on the open market. The rent for a two-bedroom Cost Rental house in Cluain Glasan will be €1,238 per calendar month, with a three-bed house renting for just €1,350 – a 27% saving on the average market rent for the area.

Members of the public who are interested in living in one of these stunning A-rated homes can apply online now via the Clúid Housing website (www.cluid.ie) or Daft.ie. Applications open at 9am on Wednesday 29 May and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 5 June. All eligible applicants will be entered into a lottery to allocate the new Cost Rental homes. The homes are unfurnished, but come with white goods, flooring and blinds.

To be eligible to rent one of these new Cost Rental homes, applicants must be able to prove:

• Their net household income is below €59,000 per year
• They are not receiving any social housing supports, such as HAP or Rent Supplement
• They can afford the rent
• They don’t own a property
• The household is the correct size for the house

The homes are advertised on Daft.ie and you can find out more, or apply to rent one of the homes, on Clúid’s website www.cluid.ie. Households can only make one application for a specific Cost Rental home.

Niall Ó Ceallacháin, Chief Operations Officer of Clúid Housing said:
“We know from our existing Cost Rental residents what a difference having a high-quality home for an affordable price can make to their lives, so I’m absolutely delighted to be opening applications for the 25 more Cost Rental homes here in Kilkenny today – the first in the county. The A-rated homes will provide the new residents with secure, high-quality homes close to the city, and with rents 27% cheaper than the average in the area.

“Cluain Glasan is a wonderful mixed tenure estate, and Clúid is excited to support our new Cost Rental residents, and our social residents, as they contribute to the wider community here.

“The changes the Government has made to the way Cost Rental delivery projects are funded have made it more viable for us to provide affordable Cost Rental homes in larger towns and cities around the country, and we hugely appreciate their support in this regard. We believe Cost Rental tenure has a significant role to play in meeting housing need and I’m looking forward to the 25 homes we’re launching here in Kilkenny, along with the 28 homes in Portlaoise, which are also open for applications, being followed by even more secure, affordable Cost Rental Homes in the coming months and years.”

During his visit to Kilkenny City, Minister O’Brien also visited the new social, affordable and private ownership homes at Nyne Park, where he met with the Clúid residents who had recently moved in.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, also commented:
“I’m delighted to be here in Kilkenny City today to see two fine examples of mixed tenure housing developments. Cluain Glasan and Nyne Park showcase the support that the Government, through Housing for All, is providing to a variety of different households. Cost Rental has huge potential to shape the private rental sector, so I’m delighted to see the first Cost Rental homes opening in Kilkenny. These secure, high-quality, affordable homes are truly life-changing.

We have recently seen that home building starts have hit record levels, with work starting on over 18,000 homes nationally last month. In Kilkenny, there were 469 new home commencements in first four months of this year, which is a record for this period. This hugely positive momentum wouldn’t be possible without a strong input from our delivery partners such as Clúid.

By working with our delivery partners like Clúid and local authorities we are delivering in Kilkenny – as we are, under Housing for All, throughout the country. We are not complacent however and we will continue to build on the positive momentum we have achieved to deliver even more for Kilkenny and for Ireland.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

Photos of launch to follow

John Cotterell, Head of Housing Management, Clúid Housing, is available for interview.

Please contact press@cluid.ie or:
Fiona O’Connor – Communications & Engagement Manager – Clúid Housing
+353 87 113 5411 – foconnor@cluid.ie

About Clúid Housing
Clúid Housing is an independent, not-for-profit charity, and is one of the largest approved housing bodies (AHBs) or housing associations in Ireland. Established in 1994, Clúid leads the way in providing high quality, affordable rented homes to people in housing need. We work in partnership with local authorities to provide housing to those on social housing waiting lists. Clúid owns and manages over 11,000 properties providing a home to over 30,000 people.

Clúid delivered 1,085 new homes in 2023 and is on-track to deliver 1,200 new social and Cost Rental homes in 2024.

Our team of 300 highly qualified professional employees are committed to providing quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities.

Clúid Housing is a member of the Housing Alliance, the collaboration of seven of Ireland’s largest Approved Housing bodies (AHBs). The Housing Alliance’s purpose is to work with Government and Local Authorities to promote the delivery of social and affordable homes, address barriers to delivery and advocate strongly for responsible, professional housing management.

In 2022, our seven not-for-profit members delivered more than 4,000 of Ireland’s voluntary housing stock delivered that year.

For more information visit www.cluid.ie