EDITORIAL: Using vacant buildings must be an option in tackling housing crisis in Offaly

Using vacant buildings must be a option for local authorities and central government in tackling the housing crisis.

Streets in towns across Offaly, the Midlands and the entire country are pockmarked by unused vacant buildings which could be converted into much-needed housing.

Last week a report from GeoDirectory revealed the commercial vacancy rate in Offaly is a massive 16.1 per cent, higher than the national average of 14pc.

Of the towns in Offaly surveyed, Edenderry had the highest commercial vacancy rate of 25.1pc while Birr had the lowest rate at 17.2pc.

These are extraordinary rates particularly in Edenderry where just over one in four commercial premises are unused.

The survey results were released just as a new report to Government by IPAV, the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers, concludes that our current plan for solving housing demand by focusing on new builds is not aligned with the national target to reduce carbon emissions.

The report sets out a series of nine separate recommendations for tackling the issue, including what it terms “realistic” tax incentives to bring vacant homes and shops back into use and a Government fund with low interest rates for purchasers of derelict or vacant homes until such time as the new home reaches a liveable state. 

In relation to the latter it says grants currently on offer cannot be availed of if, initially, buyers cannot draw down mortgages for the properties.

According to IPAV Chief Executive, Pat Davitt: “The target should be to have 25,000 vacant homes coming back into use every year. But he warned: “To succeed, and win, what we’re suggesting needs forensic focus, the involvement of all stakeholders, and rapid movement to  action. 

“As our report points out, the utilisation of vacant houses and shops is desirable socially and in terms of meeting climate change targets, and it is imminently achievable with the right set of policies.”

He added: “If correctly incentivised, and informed by the latest research from institutions like  UCD supported by the Irish Green Building Council who are to the forefront on the issue, we could appreciably increase badly needed housing stock, and do so in a climate friendly way that would sustain property values over decades.”

The IPAV report recommends the creation of a national database on vacant  properties  county by county with a measurable matrix to deal with the reasons houses are vacant and the workable solutions. 

This database should be informed by the local knowledge of postmen and local estate agents who typically have very strong local knowledge that can be used in identifying the status of vacant properties.

The report also recommends the appointment of at least one full time vacant properties officer in each  local authority  who would be responsible  for knowing the status of vacant properties and lead plans to bring them back into use.

These recommendations must be taken on board by Government if it is to make progress on the housing crisis. New builds are a major part of the solution but the use of vacant homes and commercial properties must also be seriously considered.