Renters in Dublin could be asked to pay €760 a month to live in a compact sleeping pod.
The Irishman behind a new start-up company has said that he has received numerous requests from landlords looking to maximise space.
Shane Connolly, 49, from Dublin, launched the Mr Sleeping Capsule business earlier this year after noticing the popularity of the pods while he was travelling in Asia.
His stackable structures, measuring 5ft by 7ft, include a mattress, reading light, power socket, USB port, and the option to add a flat screen television or air conditioning. Customers also have the choice of a side or end opening.
The company’s tagline is “double your space, double your income” and the website includes a reminder that landlords can take advantage of the rent-a-room relief, or tax-free income up to €14,000, by putting pods in their spare rooms.
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They are marketed to hostels, airports, offices, universities, or landlords looking to maximise space. Mr Connolly said they were also perfect for Airbnb hosts.
“Especially with housing in such short supply in Ireland, the interest in these pods from landlords has been immense. While they are not meant for long term, they are ideal for foreign students who may be coming to Ireland for only a few months and will have difficulty finding a lease for a short duration,” he said.
The retail price for the pods, which are sold in fixed units of two, is €5,990.
Mr Connolly said the materials used in their construction complied with EU fire safety laws.
“Some of the pods for sale on the internet will likely be banned in future because they are not EU-compliant. I also have a dedicated team that deliver and assemble the pods and I offer assistance to people who have any difficulties with them afterwards. I have not yet had any complaints,” he said.
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The designer has already put two of the pods in his spare room in Dublin. He placed an advertisement on Daft.ie seeking €190 a week in rent for each one, but after 1,000 views in two hours, the advertisement was taken down by administrators.
Mr Connolly said that many spare rooms in the same suburb of south Dublin were on offer for about €160 a week and he felt he could charge slightly more because the pods include more “luxuries” than a bed.
A spokesman for Daft.ie said that any advertisements that were reported had to be taken down while a review was carried out by its content team. He could not comment on when the review would be completed or whether the advertisement would be reinstated.
Similar sleeping pods are currently in the offices of many technology companies in Dublin, including Google, Facebook, and Uber. They are also available at many international airports.
Mr Connolly said he was trying to launch a charity branch of the business based on a model in Australia where a bus was converted into a homeless shelter.
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“Homeless people could get some rest in one of the pods, and then they could get dropped off again somewhere else if they want to. I plan on approaching the people behind the occupation of Apollo House to see if we can collaborate on something,” he said.
Apollo House is a vacant building in Dublin’s city centre that was occupied and renovated into homeless accommodation last weekend. The receivers in charge of the property are taking court action to require the activists involved to vacate. The building is due to be demolished as part of plans for a new office block development.