Residents living near University College Cork (UCC) have called for a licensing system for landlords amid continued concerns over students and others holding parties in rented houses near the university during the Covid-19 lockdown. Catherine Clancy of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association said that residents believed the best way to tackle the issue of lockdown parties taking place in rented houses is for landlords to be licensed. “We are calling for the licensing of landlords – there should be something along the lines of an NCT [National Car Test] for rented properties where there is a certain criteria to be checked and approved before they can be rented out. According to the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association, students moved into rented houses around UCC and continued having parties during the Covid-19 lockdown despite Government guidelines on social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The residents are rightly concerned that these parties may aid the spread of the Covid-19 disease with obvious consequences for the elderly/vulnerable residents of the area,” said Dr Sheehan, Mr McPolin and Ms Doherty.

Source: The Irish Times June 15, 2020 15:11 UTC