Minister for Housing officially opens first Cost Rental homes in Laois

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, is officially opening 143 new social homes – including Cost Rental homes during a visit to Laois. 

The 28 Cost Rental homes were delivered by Clúid Housing, in partnership with Laois County Council, the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Finance Agency, and are located in The Maltings development, at the heart of Portlaoise. They are the first Cost Rental properties in the county.

Cost Rental is a new type of housing, designed for people whose income means they are not eligible for social housing or other support such as HAP, but who still struggle to rent on the open market. The rent for a one-bedroom Cost Rental apartment in The Maltings will be €944 per calendar month, with a two-bed apartment renting for just €1,162 – a 27% saving on the average market rent for the area. The homes will be advertised for rent in May.

Brian O’Gorman is the Chief Executive Officer of Clúid Housing.

“We’re incredibly proud that Clúid delivered the first Cost Rental homes in Ireland in 2021, and we’re just as proud to be delivering the first Cost Rental homes in Laois today. These new Cost Rental apartments in The Maltings are located in the heart of Portlaoise, just minutes form the train station and the centre of the town, within a mixed tenure development of Clann age-friendly social homes, private rented homes and a nursing home.

“The changes the Government made to the way Cost Rental delivery projects are funded have made it more viable for us to provide affordable Cost Rental homes in larger towns and cities around the country. These 28 new homes will bring the number of households benefitting from secure, long-term tenancies with fair rents to 300 in five counties, with more to follow in the coming months,” he said.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Cathaoirleach Laois County Council remarked that he is delighted to welcome the first-ever Cost Rental scheme in Laois. 

“This Cost Rental accommodation will provide another affordable option to people within the county that will provide a secure tenancy at a rent which is below the market rent in the local area. I would like to wish Clúid well in delivering this scheme and I would like to acknowledge the quality of the units built by local developer – ONS developments in this very central location on a former derelict site in Portlaoise,” he said. more below picture.

Minister O'Brien with resident Esther Farrell at Clúids social housing development Goldencroft. Pic: www.CorporatePhotographersDublin.ie

During his visit to Portlaoise, Minister O’Brien also visited two Clúid Housing social housing developments – The Meadows and Goldencroft. The Meadows is a development of 28 3- and 4-bed houses and 20 2-bed apartments, located on the Mountrath Road. 

Eibhlin O’Connor, Chief Commercial Officer, Clúid Housing, commented on The Meadows: “The Meadows is part of Clúid’s ambitious construction programme and was delivered using our pioneering Developer Design and Build initiative. Together with our developer partner, Planauria, and contractor, BHA Construction, we have delivered 48 high-quality, A-rated homes for families in housing need in Laois.

“Since 2019, Clúid has delivered 1,182 new homes through our Developer Design and Build programme and our own construction programme. We currently have 636 homes on site across the country, with a further 479 homes due to commence by the end of next month,” he said. 

At Goldencroft – a development of 67 homes made up of a mix of bungalows, two storey houses, duplexes and apartments developed along with a new public car park – the Minister spoke to welcome all the new residents to their homes.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, also commented: “Home building starts have surged in recent months, with work starting on almost 12,000 more new homes in the first three months of this year – up 63% on last year. And it is when I visit projects on the ground such as this one that I get to see what that really means, the momentous effect it has on people’s lives when they get their own home. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Minister Darragh O'Brien TD, pictured here with (L-R) Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Cathaoirleach, Laois County Council, resident Andrej Kolesnikov and Brian O'Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Clúid Housing, at Clúids social housing development The Meadows. Pic: www.CorporatePhotographersDublin.ie

“I’m delighted to be here in Portlaoise to see the wonderful homes being delivered through this strong partnership between Clúid and Laois County Council. With these 143 social and cost rental homes, we are not just adding to the total of homes being delivered, we are also, importantly, providing life-changing opportunities for hundreds of people in this county who need our support. With these new properties, more families will now have a secure, high-quality, affordable place to call home. As you can see, through the hard work of our local authorities and approved housing bodies, we are delivering in Laois – as we are, under Housing for All, throughout the country. We are not complacent however and we will continue to build on the positive momentum we have achieved to deliver even more for Laois and for Ireland,” he said.

John Mulholland, Chief Executive of Laois County Council, also commented.

 “Social housing delivery in County Laois has reached record outputs over the past two years. We have witnessed the completion of over 520 much needed homes in many locations throughout the County and all have been constructed to a very high specification. Our partners in Clúid have been key to this success. The Council and Clúid operate an open book policy with regard to seeking new opportunities and innovation and with regard to efficiency and forward planning. I congratulate Clúid on their track record of housing delivery and tenant management in Laois and salute them in embracing and delivering the very first cost rental scheme in Laois,” he said.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, officially opened first Cost Rental Homes in Laois. Pictured here with L-R Padraig Fleming, Cllr Caroline Dwayne Stanley, Chair of Housing SPC, Laois County Council, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Cathaoirleach, Laois County Council, Seán Fleming, Naeem Iqbal, Pat Fleming, Brian O'Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Clúid Housing and John Mulholland, Chief Executive, Laois County Council. Pic: www.CorporatePhotographersDublin.ie

Clúid Housing is an independent, not-for-profit charity, and is the largest approved housing body (AHB) or housing association in Ireland.