Ireland’s decade-long housing crisis has featured prominently in the news lately, as the problem, which was already severe, continues to spiral out of control.
This week a clip went viral, amassing tens of thousands of views, showing dozens of people queuing to view a rental property in Cabra, Dublin, highlighting the extent of the problem.
https://www.twitter.com/cullenjay01/status/1569622008127791104
Union representatives have also said that student accommodation shortage is the “worst it has ever been,” with students taking out loans and deferring courses due to the lack of accommodation available.
Student accommodation shortage 'the worst it has ever been' https://t.co/NGfVap4WFE
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) September 13, 2022
In light of all this, it’s worth looking at five of the craziest Irish accommodation options on offer in recent months.
One Twitter users’ post went viral this week after sharing a screenshot of an apartment listing in Islandbridge, Dublin 8.
The one bedroom, one bathroom apartment is on offer for €2,500 a month, but with an added catch: it’s only available four nights a week.
https://twitter.com/aouife/status/1569750749382414338
“Complete apartment available Thursday to Monday weekly only for perm tenant,” the listing reads.
“…Landlord requires use of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Don’t email if this doesn’t suit. If you email for long term let and haven’t read this you will be ignored.”
The ad concludes for emphasis: “Price based on 4 nights per week ONLY.”
This would mean that the apartment would only be available to a tenant for 12 days a month.
“Surely I’m not reading this right…” the social media user wrote, in a tweet which has since received almost 2,000 likes in three days.
She added that, based on the monthly price, the apartment costs €156 per day that the tenant would actually get to stay there.
While the listing was once on MyHomes.ie, it appears to have been deleted at some point in the last few days.
Earlier this year, a tweet by Irish Examiner Business Reporter Cáit Caden showed a Daft.ie property available to rent for €900 a month.
“Daft is right,” she wrote. “€900 a month to live in a shed.”
Daft is right… €900 a month to live in a shed. @crazyhouseprice pic.twitter.com/t3DTRoHue4
— Cáit Caden (@AreYou_Caden_Me) April 27, 2022
The “1 bedroom, 1 bathroom” property in Knockbrown, Bandon, Co. Cork appears to have been deleted since, but was up at least as recently as April of this year, and was archived before being taken down.
“One bedroom luxury apartment,” the listing reads. “Brand new with new furniture. 7 min drive to Bandon, 15 min drive to Clonakilty, 30 min drive to Cork. No smokers, no pets. Call to arrange viewing.”
Back in May of this year, Ciara O’Loughlin – a journalist at the Independent.ie – tweeted a photo of a rental property advertised for €2,400 a month in Beach View Caravan Park in Donabate, Co. Dublin.
“All of our mobile home rental packages come with double glazing, central heating, decking shed and fencing on a private garden in our gated community,” the description reads.
“We have several rental packages available that start from 2,400 per month…What’s required: Two months’ rent upfront plus a deposit.”
By the sounds of the description they are renting multiple mobile homes 🥴 and they are starting at €2,400…. pic.twitter.com/eM78WBAwom
— Ciara O'Loughlin (@Ciara_olo) May 15, 2022
“Two things – where’s the beach view and where’s the apartment,” joked one user, reacting to the ad.
Some social media users pointed out that this property is listed in Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien’s constituency of Dublin North.
Isn't this @DarraghOBrienTD 's constituency as well? …. Priceless
— Dublin Is A Kip (@DublinIsAKip) May 16, 2022
Right in the housing ministers home town…
— Danny (@DannyIrish1) May 15, 2022
Located on Earl Street South in Dublin 8, this 5 bedroom property is admittedly nice – if you can get over the €4,200 a month price tag, which doesn’t include bills or utilities.
What might be harder to get over is the fact that you have access to it less than five days a week.
As the listing reads:
It’s since been deleted, but someone archived a listing which was up as recently as August 26th of this year.
On Twitter one user drew attention to a property advertised on Facebook Marketplace, which he described as a “dump.”
2500 a month to live in this dump of a mobile home on Facebook marketplace @crazyhouseprice pic.twitter.com/gzKd5Pw7C2
— ZB95 (@__zb95) April 30, 2022
The “2 bed mobile home” property, which is listed for €2,500 a month, is, well…less-than-stellar.
In response one user simply posted a joking gif of their “hopes and dreams” being crushed in a hydraulic press.
https://twitter.com/AutoRGB/status/1520894072285769731