Banks criticised for ‘refusing to finance cargo container homes’

Cheaper form of housing made of recycled shipping containers has become popular due to housing crisis

Container homes require planning permission as well as finance, with would-be owners having to show that they either have a connection to the water and sewage network or have their own well and waste treatment system.

Banks have been criticised for refusing to give mortgages to people who want to live in “cargo container” houses.

There has been a rise in interest among people in converting old shipping containers into modern homes due to rising rents and a shortage of homes to buy.

However, Ivana Bacik, the Labour Dublin Bay South TD, said banks were refusing to provide mortgages for people who wanted to build container homes on their own sites.