COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF HOUSING SPC
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
HEADED ITEM NO. 7 (a)
Vacant Homes Update
Under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund delivered by local authorities, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides people with a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been expanded and details of same are set out in Circular 19 of 2023 from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Heretofore, a grant of up to €30,000 was available for the refurbishment of a vacant property while a grant of up to €50,000 was available for the refurbishment of a derelict property.
From 1st May 2023, the following changes apply:
1) The inclusion of one property which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a property which will be the principal private residence of the owner i.e. a maximum of two grants will be available to an individual, with only one grant available for a property to be rented;
2) Changing the property eligibility date, which is currently pre-1993 for the build date, to include vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007; and
3) Increasing the current maximum grant rates from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties.
There are 67 properties on the Council’s vacant homes register. A vacancy data survey commenced on Monday 15th of May 2023 to identify vacant homes in the Council’s administrative area. 154 properties have been surveyed with 34 possible vacant properties under further investigation and 5 derelict properties identified. This survey is ongoing.
15 vacant homes refurbishment grant applications have been approved to date with works on 2 of the approved applications nearing completion with another 10 applications currently being assessed.