‘Repair and lease’ initiative for vacant houses unveiled
DETAILS of the vacant housing repair and leasing initiative were unveiled to members of Enniscorthy Municipal District last week.
Barry Browne of Wexford County Council said that the new scheme is designed to target the delivery of social housing and to ensure that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible.
‘CSO Census date and local studeies have indicated that there are significant numbers of vacant dweelings in Wexford. This scheme is intended to target these properties as a possible source of social housing and also provides the proeprty owner with an income stream that may be otherwise unavailable.
‘ The basis of the scheme is that repair and improvement works to suitable vacant properties are funded to bring them up to the standard for rented accommodation and the cost of the works is then deducted from lease payments over an agreed lease term.’
To qualify for the scheme: Properties must be vacant
There must be social housing demand for the property
The property has to be assessed as being viable to provide accommodation
The minimum lease term is 10 years but 20 year leases are preferable
The lease payments are based on the current market rental rates in the property location less 20 per cent to cover vacant periods and administration
The scope and cost of the works and the recoupment of the works costs through the lease payments are agreed between the owner and Wexford County Council
The initiative is not available for private renting
Mr Browne said the council will assist property owners to develop the scope of works and also help the owner in the completion of the repair works.
Property inspections will be carried out by Wexford County Council staff who will identify works required to bring the dwelling to the required standard. He said that while properties in all areas of the county will be consider there is particular demand in the main urban areas.
He said the council can also avail of a buy and renew scheme whereby the council can buy houses in need of repair works and make them available for social housing.
‘ This scheme focuses on older stock in particular as local authorities tackle dereliction in urban areas’, he said.
Mr Browne said that both schemes are designed to complement each other.
Cllr Paddy Kavanagh wondered if the council was trying to target premises over shops. He said that these types of property could be ideal and would rejuvenate the town centre. ‘In lots of places now nobody is living over shops where previously you had families there.’
Mr Browne said the council is open to all types of property but said there is an extra cost implication for properties over shops and also fire safety implications.
Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan wondered if a house was in bad condition is the council still willing to buy it. Housing executive Padraig O’Gorman said that the state of repair will affect the market value. He said that if the purchase price and the cost of the repairs needed is less than the value of the refurbished house the council would still be willing to buy it.
In response to a question from Cllr Willie Kavanagh about how long it would before a tenant was in situ in a house Mr Browne said the council is aiming for a turnaround period of between two and six months depending on the level of work required.
Cllr Johnny Mythen raised concerns about bedsits but Mr Browne said the council is not looking at bedsits.