A current scheme to repair vacant private dwellings is intended to be extended to cover rental properties.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a payment you can get if you are turning a vacant house or building into your permanent home, with a grant of up to €30,000 available.
Waterford Senator John Cummins, one of the original proposers of the amendment, spoke in the Seanad earlier this week.
"The grants of thirty and fifty thousand euros respectively are currently only open to owner occupiers where a commitment is made to reside in the property for ten years and a clawback is in place," he said," however given the context of the reduced number of rental properties in the market and the ongoing challenges that are being experienced with availability of rental properties, I believe now is the time to extend this scheme to those who wish to refurbish the vacant or derelict property and to rent it out on the private market."
If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available.
From May 1st, the grant will be extended to Vacant properties built before 2007 according to Minister of State with Responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
The grant is currently for properties built before 1993.
Minister MacNeill welcomed the changes in the Seanad.
"Can I say that I am not often in a position to deliver good news," she said in response to John Cummins, "it is intended that the refurbishment scheme be extended to include properties made available for rent from May 1st, as well as reviewing the grant rates applicable.
"Indeed that was on foot of your work and suggestion at earlier stages among others.
"Pathway 4 of housing for all sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock."
It comes at a time when the eviction ban is due to be lifted on March 31st with more than 11 thousand people in homeless services according to the latest Focus Ireland figures.
Senator Cummins referenced vacant properties saying the scheme should be extended to include the private rental market.
"It's my considered opinion that these are the only properties now that do not have a bespoke scheme," he said, "the opportunity is there now to extend this scheme to allow it to provide much-needed rental homes for individuals and families."
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