66 vacant/derelict buildings in Manorhamilton

"The amount of people coming to us looking for housing is shocking," said Cllr Felim Gurn at the latest Manorhamilton municipal district meeting where he said that on the recent canvas trail, it "is clear that there is a significant amount of vacant houses in our towns, villages and wider countryside."

He continued saying, "we are acutely aware of the housing crisis in our country due to various reasons from tax implications to issues with tenants. I ask that the housing department go through the register, estate by estate in North Leitrim, to ascertain what options would be possible around the Council purchasing houses or identifying landlords that will accept the HAP scheme ultimately making more properties available for people. Leitrim County Council has an opportunity to pilot a scheme that will show best practice in this area for other councils to follow."

Cllr Gurn said that it was "unfortunate that these houses are lying idle in a time when we have a housing crisis. I'm asking that we have someone look at our rural areas to start identifying houses, whether they are holiday homes, etc. and see if we can start talking to landlords and get these properties back out there."

A report by the Director of Services, Housing and Community, Corporate Services, Cultural and Emergency Services stated that 'Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’ is the government’s housing plan to 2030 and deliver more homes of all types for people with different housing needs. 

Pathway four ‘Pathway to Addressing Vacancy and Efficient use of Housing Stock’ seeks, through a range of incentives, funding programmes, new regulation of short-term and holiday lets and other measures to ensure that existing housing stock is utilised to the fullest extent possible.

Each Local Authority has a Vacant Homes Officer available to provide advice and assistance in order to help bring vacant homes back into use and there is also a dedicated website for property owners www.vacanthomes.ie.

In addition, the Town Centre First Policy, launched on 4 February 2022 saw a county wide survey on vacancy completed in 2023 and the number of vacant/derelict buildings in Manorhamilton town and up to one kilometre outside the town boundary was 66. 

Follow up letters issued to the property owners outlining a number of possible activation measures to bring the property back to productive use e.g. the Croi Conaithe Vacant Refurbishment Grant, the Repair and  Leasing Scheme and the Buy and Renew Scheme. 

A total of 51 applications have been submitted in the Manorhamilton Municipal District Area for the Croi Conaithe Scheme, 28 of which have been approved. 

Two vacant former commercial properties were acquired by Leitrim County Council and plans are now advancing to provide for a change of use to convert these dwellings to provide four apartments in the town centre to meet the social housing need. 

The Housing Department continues to accept Expressions of Interest from landlords/homeowners that are interested in offering their properties to meet social housing demand under the Rental Accommodation or Social Housing Leasing Initiatives. With regard to HAP properties, these are sourced privately by tenants.

Cllr Padraig Fallon said that "housing is the number one issue I come across everyday" and added he is "aware of numerous landlords who have left the market; individuals who had a second property. We need to see equity overall with regard to landlords where they can avail of €800 tax free rent to house one set of people but not to house others."

He noted that the Accommodation Recognition Payment is a tax-free payment of €800 per month for hosting refugees from Ukraine. "If the minister can give one group €800 tax free, he should give it to all and that would go some way towards moving things forward."

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock said that "some of the landlords are getting out of HAP because they can get handier money and are not tied in."

Mary Quinn, Director of Services, Housing, Corporate Services, Community and Cultural Services, said there "are properties being brought back into use but I do appreciate that it may not be at the pace we need."