This research draws on extended ethnography to document the Oliver Bond community’s journey in seeking fair regeneration of their social housing estate within the gentrifying inner-city Dublin’s neighbourhood of The Liberties.

Back in March 2021, residents supported by Robert Emmet community development project distributed a survey on housing conditions to all 397 units within the estate. Nearly 50% of surveys were completed, with results reporting living conditions that were clearly in breach of residents’ right to adequate housing.

Results show that a staggering 83% of residents are living with mould and damp and nearly three quarters (74%) have drafts and poor insulation, which makes it impossible to keep their homes warm. Over one in three residents (35%) have sewage problems and over a third (34%) have problems with pests, including rats.

Over half of the residents (55%) have been told by a medical practitioner that damp, mould, or sewage is contributing to ill-health in their families.

Yet, residents have been told that it will be at least 15 years before they can expect completion of their long-promised regeneration programme.