A group of nine students in Cork city pays €5,400 monthly to share a cramped three-bedroom house, highlighting the city’s housing crisis.
Cork: A young man shared his experience of living with eight other students in a three-bedroom house. Joao, a Brazilian engineer, lives with his girlfriend and seven others. They all moved to Ireland for their studies.
Joao and his girlfriend share one bedroom. The other roommates are split between two small bedrooms. One room has two bunk beds and a single bed, which Joao describes as very cramped.
They pay €5,400 a month in rent. To make things better, many have brought in extra fridges, tables, and chairs. Joao explained that they have to coordinate cooking times to avoid showering issues. The boiler can only handle a few hot showers before it runs cold.
He mentioned that living with so many people is common. Last year, he saw a house listing for 14 people! Sometimes, he thinks about returning to Brazil, but his parents encourage him to stay in Ireland for his future.
Joao finds the house comfortable but struggles with “revolving door roommates.” This makes it hard to collect money for the electricity bill. He noted that many immigrants face similar housing challenges, and some friends have returned to Brazil due to accommodation issues.
Currently, Joao is looking for a new place, which is tough in Cork due to the rising cost of living. In November, the average rent in Cork City hit €2,077 per month, close to the average salary of €28,000.
Many people are struggling with the lack of housing support. Recent data shows only one home in Cork City accepts Housing Assistance Payments (HAP), a local authority rent contribution.
