Families on the social housing waiting list are turning down homes because they are not in the right area, or have no garden or parking facilities.
It's the first time there has been a comprehensive breakdown of refusals compiled by the Department of the Environment to understand why there's such a high level of refusals.
The results have found that many families turn down social housing offers because they don't like the area.
Twenty percent of homes are rejected in Dublin because of this.
Other reasons given for refusing homes include no garden or parking facilities, a high level of anti-social behaviour, the property is unsuitable to the applicants needs or that the accommodation was an upper floor apartment.
A government source said that most reasons for turning down an offer are legit, but the issue of serial refusers must be addressed.
