FAQ for Lancaster Gate

This new housing tenure offers a long-term, secure rental option that will contribute to the development of a healthy housing market in Ireland. The rent is based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the homes which means it is an affordable housing option.

The scheme is located at Lancaster Gate, Cork City, Co. Cork. There is 1 one-bed apartment available.

The Lancaster Gate homes are conveniently located in Cork City, and have the benefit of all the amenities offered by the city. The city centre, with its array of shops, bars and restaurants, is only a few minutes’ walk away. The development is also close to a number of schools, University College Cork, and the Mercy University Hospital.

As the rent is based on the cost of building and maintaining the apartments, these homes in Lancaster Gate represent extremely good value for the local area – the rent is approx. 45% below market rent in the area.

• 1 bed apartment- €1,030 per calendar month

All cost rental rents are set at a minimum level of 25% below the market rents in the area where the scheme is located. The apartments in Lancaster Gate are approx. 45% below market rent for Cork City.

The deposit is one month’s rent less €50 as shown below.

• 1 bed apartment- €980

The apartments are unfurnished to allow residents to decorate them according to their own taste. However, the following items are included;

• white goods (fridge-freezer, dishwasher, oven & hob, microwave, washer-dryer)
• Roller blinds, with blackout blinds in bedrooms.
• Flooring – laminate flooring throughout, except bathrooms, which are tiled.
• Bin collection is included in rent.
• There is a connection for Virgin Media, Eircom etc. in the property. However, all utilities (electricity, internet, telephone, Virgin Media etc.) will need to be set up by the resident.

If a house – Yes, however, you must not keep or breed any animals, pets, reptiles, insects, rodents or birds at the premises without first getting permission from Clúid.
If an apartment- Clúid has a strict no pet policy in apartments. By having a pet this will be a breach of your tenancy.

The Apartment will be ready the start of April 2024

To be eligible, you need to be able to prove the following:

• Your net household income is below €59,000 per annum
• You are not in receipt of any social housing supports (including Rent Supplement or HAP)
• You do not own a property
• Your household size matches the size of the property advertised (All members of the household must be living in Ireland at time of applying.)
• You can afford to pay the cost rent for the home
• Your household has only entered one application for a specific cost rental property

*Terms and conditions for cost rental housing in Ireland are set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021.

Applications are assessed at point of entry. If for example, after you’ve been allocated a property your household income increased above €59,000 you would still be entitled to continue renting the property.

Rent is generally considered to be ‘affordable’ if it is no more than 35% of your net household income (see above for an explanation of net household income).

For a 1 bed Apartment net household income should be approx. €35,314 or above.

If you earn less than the amount above, we will give you the option to evidence that, while on your current income, you have paid the same rent or higher for the preceding two years without defaulting.

You can apply on the clúid website and follow the instructions. This is the only method to apply, registration of interest cannot be made by post or over the phone.

Once you have selected the property that you are eligible for, you will need to enter your details into our self-service eligibility checker and register your interest.
If this will be a joint application, enter information for two applicants. This is a three-step process;

1. You must first register your interest in the property.
2. If there are more interested applicants than available properties, all applications will then be entered into a lottery. Once the lottery takes place, we will begin reviewing applications from the top of the list.
3. From the start of the list applicants will receive an email requesting them to upload all their documents. Applicants will have 72 hours to upload all necessary documents. Applications with all requested documents will be prioritised.

The closing date for Lancaster Gate is 5.00 pm Wednesday 20th of March

You should apply for the size property that matches your needs. We will seek not to under- or over-occupy properties. In other words, a 1-bed home will not be allocated to a family of two adults and one child, and a 2-bed home would not be allocated to a single adult. Set out below, are the guidelines we will be following:

1 -bed unit – suitable for one adult or a cohabiting couple

We will not consider an application that will lead to over occupation of a property. Over occupation is where more than two children are occupying one bedroom per household.

The following documents will need to be submitted;

• Proof of ID for each household member, including children
• Proof of Address
• Proof of Residency
• Proof of Income for all members of the household over 18
• Employer Reference for all members of the household over 18
• Landlord Reference for all members of the household over 18
• Bank Statements for all members of the household over 18

Please have these documents ready when you register your interest. Once the lottery takes place, we will begin reviewing applications from the top of the list. If your application is successful, you will have 72 hours to upload your documents and complete the application process.

The tenancy is a rolling contract. Provided there are no issues with breach of tenancy or rent arrears, after six months you will have security of tenure. This means you can only be evicted from the apartment if you breach your tenancy agreement or fail to pay the rent. These properties are a long-term rental option that offer security of tenure.

No. These properties will not be available to purchase.

Net household income is calculated by adding together the net income for each household member aged 18 years and over. Net income means that income tax, universal social charge, PRSI and superannuation are deducted from the relevant gross assessable income. Click here for an explanation of payslip terms.

Income that is assessable for the purposes of assessing eligibility for Cost Rental housing?

• income from employment including overtime, bonuses and commissions. Overtime payments, commissions and bonuses will be assessable as follows:
  • overtime – generally restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income, but regular overtime may be taken into account;
  • bonus – restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income;
  • commission – restricted to a maximum of 30% of basic income, where applicable;
• income from self-employment;
• maintenance payments received, subject to criteria set out in the Guidance notes on the Household Means Policy of 30 March 2011
• income from dividends, capital investments and other similar sources of income;
• occupational and social welfare pensions, from whatever source, including from abroad, and
• all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances, and benefits, including Family Income Supplement is assessable, with the exception of the below.

Income from the following sources shall, in all cases, be disregarded for the purposes of assessing income:

• child benefit or guardian’s payment;
• exceptional or urgent needs payments;
• carer’s allowance;
• scholarships or higher education grants;
• foster care payments;
• domiciliary care allowance;
• allowances/assistance from charities;
• fuel allowance;
• mobility allowance;
• living alone allowance;
• rent or mortgage interest supplements; and
• payments under FÁS schemes.

No, only one application per household is permitted. Anyone applying multiple times will be disqualified from the lottery.

If we receive more eligible applicants than there are properties available, applicants will be selected via a lottery.

The lottery will be run once the advertising of the properties has ceased. This is operated by an external agency with full audit trail for transparency. The lottery will create at random a list of all applicants and we will approach applicants from the top of the list.

• Proof of ID (Current Valid Signed Passport/Current Valid Passport Card/Current Valid Travel Document/Current Valid EU/EEA Driving Licence – must contain photograph (Irish Provisional accepted)/Current EU National Identity Card)
• Proof of address (Utility Bill e.g. telephone, mobile, gas, electricity, heating, oil, waste collection (where a utility bill is a first bill, a second form of address verification is required)/Correspondence from a Regulated Financial Institution operating in the Republic of Ireland (Insurance / Assurance Co., Bank, Building Society, Credit Union, Credit Card Company)/Correspondence from a Government Department / Body)
• Proof of Residency in the Republic of Ireland. Documents that are eligible as proof of residence are as follows
  • Employment Details Summary (P60)
  • Statement of Payments/Benefits from Dept. of Social Protection
  • Tenancy agreement if you are renting
  • Bank statements for at least 3 months showing day-to-day transactions or Direct Debits for utility bills
  • An employment letter from your current employer, which includes your name, address and date you commenced work
• Proof of income
  • If employed: Employment Details Summary (P60)
  • last three months’ payslips
  • End of Year Statement (P21)
  • If self-employed– a minimum of 1 year’s accounts, along with an up-to-date tax balancing statement and preliminary tax receipt.
  • Social Welfare Income – documentary evidence of all social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and pensions being received by members of the household. As income of household members over 18 is also included in the assessment for qualification, evidence of payments to these household members is also needed.
• Employer Reference, dated within the previous 6 weeks
• Landlord Reference, dated within the previous 6 weeks
• Bank Statements for the previous 6 months

If your name is chosen from the lottery, you will hear from us within 20 working days after the closing date.

Yes, we will notify all applicants whether they are successful or not within 30 working days after the closing date.

No – Clúid will not be holding a waiting list for cost rental housing. You will be able to apply again when further schemes are advertised.

You cannot transfer from a social home into a cost rental home.

However, if your net income is within the threshold (between approx.. €40,000 and €59,000) you can apply for a Cost Rental home. If you are selected you will need to give up your social home and you will be paying Cost Rental rent, rather than your current social rent, which is based on your income. You will also be unable to receive HAP or RAS.

Yes, there will. Keep an eye on the Clúid website for further details.