ABANDONED HOMES ARE BEING RE-LET
UP TO 100 NEW SOCIAL HOUSES HAVE COME ON STREAM AFTER CPO’S
Louth has become a leading light in the development of abandoned houses under the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) scheme according to latest figures obtained by the Argus.
A pilot scheme launched in the second half of 2015 has to date resulted in 92 dwellings across the entire county brought unto use for social housing as a result of CPO’s by Louth County Council.
Joe McGuinness, Director of Housing with the local authority explained that the process began initially with a plan to CPO 24 houses in Dundalk and 12 in Drogheda.
‘We quickly noticed that there were fewer abandoned properties in Drogheda, likely due to its location closer to Dublin, so houses were more likely to be in use.’
So far, of the 90 plus properties which have been taken over during the last three years, 39 are already providing homes or will soon be made available for people who were previously on the social housing list.
‘Of those 39 tenancies, four have been delivered as specific disability refurbishments for high needs households,’ added Joe.
However it wasn’t all good news for Louth County Council this week as they announced that their 2018 budget for housing repairs has been used up in the first eight months of the year, leaving no funds for repairs to existing local authority housing stock for the final four months.
LOUTH has become a leading light in the development of abandoned houses under the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) scheme according to latest figures obtained by the Argus.
A pilot scheme launched in the second half of 2015 has to date resulted in 92 dwellings across the entire county brought unto use for social housing as a result of CPO’s by Louth County Council.
Joe McGuinness, Director of Housing with the local authority explained that the process began initially with a plan to CPO 24 houses in Dundalk and 12 in Drogheda.
‘We quickly noticed that there were fewer abandoned properties in Drogheda, likely due to its location closer to Dublin, so houses were more likely to be in use.’
So far, of the 90 plus properties which have been taken over during the last three years, 39 are already providing homes or will soon be made available for people who were previously on the social housing list.
‘Of those 39 tenancies, four have been delivered as specific disability refurbishments for high needs households,’ added Joe.
For these properties, the local authority will look at specific houses which are more accessible, possibly detached or end of terrace.
A further nine of the assigned dwellings are currently being converted and re-furbished for council tenants,
‘Our logic always has been, these houses are vacant, not for sale, and in many cases they are detracting from the neighbourhood at very least,’ said
Joe McGuinness.
‘At worst they can be sources of antisocial behaviour or dumping and can attract vermin, and cause dampness which has impacted on neighbours.’
The council’ success in CPO’s across Louth has drawn national attention, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy both over the last year citing Louth as an example for other local authorities to follow.
‘We’re delighted that the success of the pilot project in Louth has led to it being made a national initiative under the Re-Building Ireland umbrella,’ said Joe.
At a local level he adds that by enacting a CPO of these often abandoned and neglected units ‘we are not interfering with the local property market, but are creating construction employment and improving the area and providing badly need social housing.’
He points out that the majority of the refurbishments have been straight forward. ‘ Although a small number of properties have been difficult to address due to decades of neglect.’
The refurbishment process can take either three months, or six months, depending on their condition, and the needs of new tenants.
He admits that some of the houses are those taken back by the banks after the property crash, which are now proactively being put back into use.
Local people have, in the main been receptive to the CPO initiative, with reports of potential vacant or abandoned houses coming in through the dedicated website www.vacanthomes.ie
‘People tend to notice if a house in their street or their estate is abandoned, as it become run down, grass doesn’t be cut. When we get reports through vacanthomes.ie we will look at them. But obviously not every property will be suitable for CPO,’ added Joe.
‘Another positive impact of the process though is that some property owners are conscious of our activities and have put their property into productive use as a result.’