REVEALED: Just six vacant housing grants paid to homeowners in Laois

Just six Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants have been paid to homeowners in Co Laois. 

That's according to Laois County Council's Monthly Management Report (published January 2024), which reveals fewer than 5% of grant applications have been paid out up to December 31, 2023. 

The grant is available for up to a maximum of €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties to rent or live in as a principal residence, and a top-up grant of €20,000 is also available for properties which are derelict. 

To qualify for the grant, properties must be vacant for two years or more, and built before 2008. 

Out of the 121 applications submitted to the council between mid-July 2022 and the end of last year, just 65 grant applications have been approved, while 20 others have received approval in principle. 

Five applications were refused and four others were withdrawn. 

One hundred and three properties included in the total submitted applications were by applicants intending to live in the property as their principal private residence, while 18 properties were to be made available to rent. 

The option to rent out a property granted approval for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is from May 1, 2023 only. 

According to a survey of vacant properties in Laois conducted by the Vacant Homes Team in 2023, 551 properties of 919 were found to be vacant, with 37 having some elements of dereliction. 

The housing section of Laois County Council aims to make enquiries on the ownership of vacant properties such as these, and where ownership cannot be established, use of the Compulsory Acquisition process may be necessary. 

This involves acquiring properties which may be deemed suitable for social housing.