A total of 47 offers of social housing in County Roscommon were refused over the last two years, according to research undertaken recently by the Irish Independent.
The county-by-county breakdown shows that 287 offers were made in 2021 in Roscommon, resulting in 29 refusals – while 18 offers out of 142 were turned down last year.
According to the analysis nationally, the offer of apartments or duplexes rather than houses was one of the most common reasons for refusal, while some people on waiting lists also complained that homes being offered were in areas known for anti-social behaviour.
Other common reasons for rejection were locations being ‘unsuitable’, gardens being too small, a ‘no pets allowed’ policy, and medical grounds.
Some prospective tenants also said homes did not have sufficient storage, or lacked a second bathroom. Parking availability, distance from local schools and proximity to an ex-partner were also offered as reasons for refusal.
Nationally, an average of one in five offers were turned down, from almost 25,000 offers made across 2021 and 2022. As many as two in five offers were refused last year alone.
