Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider extending the repair and lease scheme to include private sector tenants as well as social tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15861/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) provides an upfront loan, to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, to owners of vacant properties that require work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties.

Under the scheme, the local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of lease for a period of between 5 and 25 years. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner and therefore has a neutral cost to the Exchequer.

RLS is a social housing delivery mechanism. Given the current demand for social housing across all local authorities, the principal aim of the scheme remains the provision of social housing.

Local authorities have recently reported increased interest in the scheme, and it is expected that this will be seen in delivery of units in 2023. Take up of the scheme will be kept under review.

As the cost of repairs in RLS are recouped from the property owner through reduced lease payments, the current RLS model is not considered appropriate to the private rental market.

It worth noting however that the Government and I have decided to further expand the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, to include properties which are made available for rent and not solely for owner occupation. My Department is currently working on details of this expansion and I will make a further announcement in this regard when this work has concluded.