Vacant Home Schemes

The aim of the scheme is to acquire and refurbish properties to a standard for rental accommodation; in return, making them available for social housing while improving cityscapes and reducing homelessness. Homeowners have the option to sell or lease their property to the City Council.

Buy and Renew Scheme

The Buy and Renew Scheme was announced by then Minister for Housing, Mr Simon Coveney in early 2017, to support local authorities and/or approved housing bodies to acquire or purchase long-term vacant, under-utilised or derelict properties. Having acquired a property, Dublin City Council will refurbish it to a standard for rented accommodation and then make it available for social housing use. Full details can be found in Department Circular No.41-2016.

The key objective of the scheme is to allow the City Council to acquire properties requiring substantial works by agreement with the property owner (purchase), or through compulsory purchase order (CPO). Remediation works will be carried out by Dublin City Council to a standard for rented accommodation and on completion the property will be returned to residential use and made available for social housing. In doing so, we aim to reduce homelessness, reduce dereliction and improve cityscapes.

Repair and Leasing Scheme

The Repair and Leasing Scheme is an opportunity to bring vacant houses or commercial properties back into use as homes for families and individuals on the social housing waiting list.

Suitable buildings are typically located in central locations that would benefit from renovation.

Under the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB), will provide interest free funding of up to €80,000 (including VAT) per individual home delivered, to bring the property up to rental standard. In return, the homes are leased to the local authority or an AHB for between 5 and 25 years. The loan is repaid via a deduction in the monthly rent over an agreed term within the lease.

What is RLS and what funding is available?

• RLS provides social housing through the renovation of vacant privately owned properties.
• Dublin City Council or an approved housing body (AHB), provides a loan to carry out works on vacant properties to bring them up to rental standards[1].
• The renovated home is leased to the Dublin City Council or AHB to provide social housing for between 5 and 25 years.
• The maximum loan is €80,000, including VAT, per completed unit; 2 units max €160,000, 3 units max €240,000 etc.
• The loan is offset against the monthly lease payment to the owner.
• Income – lease payments maximum 80%/85% of market rent for long-term leases or 92%/95% for RAA, less offset.

1 S.I. No. 137/2019 - Housing (Standards For Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (irishstatutebook.ie)

Benefits to Property Owner

• Long-term lease option (5 to 25 years) or Rental Availability Agreement (5 to 10 years typically).
• Dublin City Council or the AHB is the landlord to the tenant; no day to day maintenance (long-term lease only).
• No loss of rent during vacant periods; no advertising/letting fees.
•  Guaranteed income for lifetime of lease.
•  Interest free loan up to €80,000 including VAT, per unit, for example, where a vacant pub is converted into 7 units, maximum funding of €560,000 is available. In the case of multi-unit developments, funding may be apportioned between units.
• There is no limit on the number of units one property owner can provide under RLS.
• Tax relief under the Living Cities Initiative may apply, where appropriate (provided that all other requirements of the Initiative are met).

What properties qualify?

• Properties must be vacant for at least 12 months; and
• Dublin City Council must decide that the units are required and suitable for social housing.

Where can I apply?

If you are interested in applying to this scheme or wish to discuss, please contact us at [email protected], or by

phone 01 2226036.

Further information on the Repair & Leasing Scheme is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d32c4-repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls-fu...

Further information on the Living Cities Initiative is available here: Living City Initiative (LCI) (revenue.ie)

Information on the tax treatment of RLS is available on the website of the Revenue Commissioners.

Repair and Leasing Scheme Pathway

The owner has two options

(A) To lease the property back to the City Council through a direct lease agreement. The City Council will be responsible for landlord duties and the rental income will be paid at 80% of current market rental rates for a house or 85% if the dwelling is an apartment

(B) A rental availability arrangement is also available. The owner will take on landowner duties in return for 92% of the agreed current market related rent

On agreement with Dublin City Council, the owner can choose to engage a contractor to carry out the necessary refurbishment works, have Dublin City Council carry out the works or alternative have an approved housing body (AHB) manage the refurbishment works on your behalf.

Where a property owner brings more than one dwelling into the scheme, the funds available, i.e., €60,000 (incl. VAT) per dwelling, may be apportioned between a number of dwellings once the total funding for all dwellings does not exceed €60,000 per dwelling.

This scheme is also available in respect of new, vacant (minimum 12 months), unfinished dwellings. The fund will allow the dwelling be brought to the standard for rented houses regulations only.