Changes to Vacant Property Schemes described as 'excellent news' by Hardware Association Ireland

The changes to the grants scheme for vacant properties have been described as 'substantial and sensible' by a building association. 

Hardware Association Ireland has welcomed the Government’s announcement of major changes to the Croí Cónaithe vacant property grant scheme.

The grant will be available for renovations to all homes built before 2007, where previously it was only available to homes built before 1993.

Another major change sees the grant becoming available for people renovating vacant homes to be used as rental properties, whereas it is only available to owner-occupied houses under current rules. The grant rates are also going to be increased to meet inflation in the cost of building materials.

Welcoming the Government’s announcement today, Hardware Association Ireland Chief Executive Martin Markey said: ‘’This is excellent news from the Government and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien. These are very sensible and substantial changes which will give a major boost to getting more empty homes back into use. We are delighted that the Minister and his Department are being proactive on the issue of vacant homes as it has the potential to free up a lot of housing stock, create a lot of jobs, transform rural towns and villages and tackle dereliction in urban areas’.’

Hardware Association Ireland has been intensively campaigning for greater supports for renovating empty home for the past three years and many of its proposals have been adopted by Government last year. The association is currently preparing to launch revised empty homes proposals in the coming weeks.

Hardware Association Ireland is the representative body for Irish hardware and DIY retailers, builders’ merchants, distributers and manufacturers. It represents over 400 members nationwide and 26,000 staff in the sector.