Mayo County Council is calling on vacant home property owners across Mayo to engage with house repair and leasing scheme
Mayo County Council has recently signed a Repair and Leasing Scheme in relation to properties in Belmullet that are being brought on-stream through the Government’s Repair and Leasing Scheme.
The Council outlined the background to the scheme as follows: "The purpose of the Repair and Leasing Scheme is to bring vacant properties in need of repair, back into use for social housing. The scheme is aimed at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford the repairs needed to bring their property up to the standard required.
"There are significant benefits to property owners including, if a property requires repairs, to bring it up to standard for letting. A local authority or Approved Housing Body will pay for this necessary repair work in return for the property being made available for social housing for a period of at least five years under either a direct lease or a Rental Availability Agreement (RAA ) with the Local Authority. The Government’s Housing for All plan, which deals with addressing vacancy and the efficient use of existing stock, places a key emphasis on the recently enhanced Repair and Leasing Scheme.
"Mayo County Council has enjoyed considerable success as regards the Repair and Leasing Scheme with 19 lease agreements signed to date and 28 other applications at various stages. Tom Gilligan, Director of Services with Mayo County Council states that schemes such as the Repair and Lease are very beneficial in order to bring vacant properties back into use.
"This scheme is very much targeted at owners who cannot afford the cost of the works required to bring a property that has been vacant for at least one year up to a lettable condition. Apart from providing much-needed housing, bringing vacant homes back into use helps rejuvenate areas that are in decline. Also, these properties, once occupied, will help sustain our local communities and services such as shops and schools.
"Mayo County Council is a local authority that has been to the fore as regards bringing vacant homes back into use and our ambition is to achieve more and we want property owners in our towns, especially Ballina, Castlebar, Westport, Swinford, Foxford, Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Newport and Louisburgh to engage with us.
"Mayo County Council is calling on all vacant home property owners, that need access to a maximum, interest free loan of €60,000 in order to get the property back into use and also have a guaranteed rental income, to get in touch.
"An information pack can be posted out or e-mailed to interested owners and anyone interested should contact Mayo County Council’s Vacant Home Officer, Deirdre Swords at [email protected] or alternatively by phone at (094 ) 9064950."
