Housing applicants in Limerick could face 5.38 year wait for two bedroom home
Waiting times can vary 'significantly' depending on areas of choice selected by applicants
THE average wait time that housing applicants face for a two bed home is 5.38 years, a recent meeting of the Limerick Metropolitan District has revealed.
These figures were released following a question submitted by Social Democrats Councillor Elisa O’Donovan. She asked for a breakdown of the average waiting time for housing applicants in regards to one bed, two bed and three bed properties.
In a written reply, Mary Hayes, Senior Executive Officer, Housing Support Services, confirmed that Limerick City and County Council undertook a comprehensive review of housing allocations for 2024. The figures released indicate the average waiting time for applicants, which are as follows:
- One bedroom house- 5.25 years
- Two bedroom house- 5.38 years
- Three bedroom house- 4.73 years
On this, Ms Hayes said, “It is important to note that waiting times can vary significantly depending on areas of choice selected by applicants. In particular, areas with high demand and limited social housing supply can result in longer waiting periods.”
According to the Senior Executive Officer, The Allocations Team is currently planning to roll out the Choice Based Letting system. This system will provide applicants with greater autonomy to express interest in available properties across a wider range of areas. This is expected to support more efficient allocations and may help to reduce overall waiting times.