M10News|Dayo Ade Olusola|Housing Desk | 11 October 2025
A fire-damaged house in Finglas has gone viral online after being listed for €225,000, drawing widespread criticism from housing experts and residents alike.
The property, located in Deanstown Green, was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack in April, which Gardaí treated as criminal damage.
Nearly six months later, the top-floor windows remain shattered, the front door is boarded up, and scorch marks are visible across the facade.
Ray Cooke Auctioneers, the agency listing the home, describe it as a “house in need of full renovation.”
Videos posted to the company’s Instagram and TikTok accounts show an estate agent describing the property as a “fantastic opportunity for anyone looking for a project or investment.”
The listing has sparked outrage online, with social media users criticising the sale as tone-deaf in the context of Ireland’s ongoing housing crisis.
“Marketing a burnt-out house as an investment opportunity feels completely disconnected from reality,” said Rory Hearne, Social Democrats housing spokesperson and local TD.
Hearne, who has authored extensive research on housing and previously served as an Associate Professor at Maynooth University, described the listing as “part of the problem” in Ireland’s property market.
The average house price in Finglas over the past year was €316,942, according to property website Proper.ie — making the €225,000 listing roughly €90,000 below the local average.
Despite the apparent discount, the property is still more expensive than average homes in several counties outside Dublin, highlighting the disproportionate costs in the capital region.
Hearne emphasised that the listing seems aimed at investors rather than families or first-time buyers. “Homes should be for people, not just investment assets. The way properties are marketed inflates prices unnecessarily,” he said.
Renovation experts estimate that fully restoring a fire-damaged property of this size could cost hundreds of thousands of euros, potentially exceeding the listing price.
“It may even need to be demolished,” Hearne added, stressing the financial and practical challenges of such a project.
Residents voiced their concerns on social media. One Finglas resident wrote: “It’s absurd that a house like this is being sold for this much. People need homes, not investment projects.”
Another user noted: “This listing shows exactly why Dublin’s housing market is broken — everything is treated like a commodity for profit.”
The viral response underscores the growing public frustration with high property prices, a shortage of social housing, and long waiting lists across Ireland.
According to the Department of Housing, over 90,000 households are on local authority waiting lists, some for more than five years, highlighting the urgent need for affordable housing.
Hearne added that the estate agent’s approach reflects broader systemic issues. “Estate agents are incentivised to maximise prices rather than ensure homes are accessible to people who need them,” he said.
Ciarán Murphy of the Irish Housing Alliance noted: “Listings like this illustrate the tension between investment-driven pricing and real housing needs. There is a clear need for policy reforms that prioritise people over profit.”
As social media amplifies stories like the Finglas property, public attention is increasingly turning toward the ethics of property marketing and the role of investors in driving up prices.
The €225,000 listing serves as a symbol of Dublin’s housing crisis, illustrating the challenges faced by residents and policymakers as the search for affordable, livable homes continues.
M10News Housing Desk | Contact: news@m10news.com
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