VACANT HOMES ACTION PLAN

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1 VACANT HOMES ACTION PLAN Housing Office, College House, Swinford, 22nd December, 2017

2 INDEX Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Objective of the Action Plan 4 3. Mayo Context 4 4. Mayo Preliminary Vacant Homes Data 6 5. Actions 6 6. Appendix 1 Estimated Vacant Stock (CSO 2016) 8 7. Appendix 2 Estimated Vacant Stock (GeoDirectory Q3 2017) 9 2

3 Mayo County Council Vacant Homes Action Plan Introduction: Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness sets out in Pillar 5 actions to address and maximise the utilisation of Existing Housing Action 5.1 under this Pillar states: We will develop a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy, informed by Census 2016 Data, to:- Complete a register of vacant units across the country, Identify the number, location and reasons for longer term vacancies (i.e. over 6 months) in high demand areas, and Set out a range of actions to bring vacant units back into use The Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government in his communication of the 25 th August, 2017 (Circular letter PL 7/2017 refers), set out the requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Vacant Homes Action Plan including early actions to be taken at a local level. The Action Plan is to identify a range of actions, responsibilities and timelines and to set targets for reducing vacancies over the period to The actions to be effective should address identifiable need with a particular focus on vacancy hotspots and high demand areas. Each local authority is to designate a Vacant Homes Officer to examine Census 2016 and other relevant contemporary data on vacant homes and prepare a Vacant Homes Action Plan. The Vacant Homes Action Plan should seek to identify vacancy hot-spot areas and properties that can be quickly brought back into use. 3

4 2. Objective of the Action Plan The objective of the Vacant Homes Action Plan is to identify a range of actions, responsibilities and timelines and to set targets for a reduction in the number of vacant housing units over the period There are significant benefits to bringing vacant homes back into use. Not just the economic benefit for property owners but also the wider socio-economic benefits which accrue to local communities from the turnaround of vacant and and derelict houses into occupied homes which bring vibrancy into the heart of our communities. Bringing vacant homes back into use will also increase the housing supply, at a time of high demand, and provide another option for the accommodation of households, with a housing need. For the action plan to be effective it will have to identify vacancy hot-spots and areas with high housing demand and focus the work of tackling vacancy in those areas. 3. Mayo County Housing Context Census data for the years highlight population growth and the growth of the housing stock in Mayo over the 25 year period. The extent to which the rise in housing stock is out of step with the rise in population is striking. It is this imbalance which has given rise to the very high house vacancy rate recorded in successive census data for County Mayo. Census Population Total Vacant % of Stock Year Stock Stock Vacant ,713 39,394 6,078 15% ,524 41,840 6,617 16% ,446 49,194 9,053 18% ,829 58,717 14,298 24% ,638 65,792 16, % ,425 65,921 15, % 4

5 CENSUS 2016 Vacant Homes Data for County Mayo The 2016 census has identified a vacant stock of 15,452 housing units in County Mayo out of a total housing stock of 65,921 a vacancy rate of 23.4% which is one of the highest in the country. The vacancy rate is down slightly from the rate of 24.7% which was recorded in the 2011 census. The housing stock profile for County Mayo is as follows; Total Countywide Housing Stock - 65,921 Total Vacant per CSO ,452 Of Which o Holiday Homes - 4,855 Nett Vacant Stock Figure (excl holiday homes) - 10,597 Of Which o Number of Vacant Houses - 9,263 o Number of Vacant Apartments - 1,334 Estimated No. Temporarily Vacant - 1,258 (2011 Census) 5

6 4. Mayo Preliminary Vacant Homes Data As a starting point to identifying the detail behind the headline vacant stock data, CSO small area mapping data for 2011 and available CSO data for 2016 was analysed. This has generated a breakdown of estimated vacant stock by main population area as set out in Appendix 1. Other than CSO data, the only other contemporary source for vacant stock survey data is the An Post Geo Directory. This data base is updated and informed by An Post and is associated with population movements and business migration. The information is obtained by the Council from An Post and Ordinance Survey Ireland. The 3 rd Quarterly Geo Directory report for 2017 identifies 5,141 vacant units in County Mayo. This is considerably less than the 15,452 units identified by the 2016 Census. Having analysed the available data, and based on very preliminary field work, it is the view of Mayo County Council that the level of vacant residential units, excluding holiday homes is somewhere between the CSO and Geo Directory data and in the order of 7,000-9,000 units. Detailed field work would be required to determine what percentage of these units could be brought back into use and how quickly. 5. Actions In the context of National policy on vacant homes and the delivery of a tangible vacant homes action plan Mayo County Council will; 1. Recruit a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) who will report to the Head of Housing and have responsibility for the delivery of this action plan. 2. The VHO will within one month of commencing work; o Agree organisational protocols for validation of CSO and Geo Directory data and desk top analysis and site visits. o Agree with the Director of Housing, Roads and Services Development the inspections resource necessary to underpin this strategy including those necessary to undertake desk top analysis, site visits, land registry searches etc o Follow up vacant units reported through which is the central portal developed by Mayo County Council for individuals to report/register vacant properties in their area 6

7 3. The VHO will within three months of commencing work; o Complete for the larger urban areas within the County; Ballina, Castlebar, Westport and Claremorris, an analysis of the available vacant stock data through field work and site visits and have determined and verified what units are vacant. 4. The VHO will within six months of commencing work; o Have identified from the verified vacant stock what units could be brought back into use within a reasonable timeframe and identified, where possible, the owners of the properties which have been identified as units which could be brought back into use relatively quickly o Have publicised the work of the vacant homes unit and encouraged public use of and the bringing forward of data on vacant units in the smaller towns and villages in Mayo. Public information days and workshops will be organsied to highlight the issue of vacant homes and the schemes available to tackle it 5. The VHO will focus on engagement with the owners of vacant property through a combination of written correspondence and face to face meetings. This engagement will include; o Efforts to receive formal confirmation of ownership from the owner and to explore the owner s intentions including options open under the various government initiatives o The possibility of the sale or lease of the property to the local authority where it is in reasonable repair, in an appropriate location and can be brought into productive use quickly and at reasonable cost o Where vacant property is clearly derelict the Environment Department of Mayo County Council will be notified so that they can write to the property owner in the context of their obligations under the Derelict Sites Act, The VHO will use the following initiatives and schemes to help bring identified vacant units back into use: Buy and Renew Scheme Repair and Leasing Scheme Rental Accommodation Scheme/Social Leasing Housing Assistance Payment Compulsory Purchase 7

8 APPENDIX 1 Estimated Vacant Stock by Main Population Areas (Source CSO 2016) Location Total Mayo Housing Stock Estimated Vacant Stock (excl holiday homes) County Mayo 65,921 10,597 Ballina Urban 5, Ballina Rural 1, Castlebar Urban 5, Castlebar Rural Westport Urban 2, Westport Rural Claremorris 1, Ballyhaunis 1, Ballinrobe 1, Swinford Foxford Kiltimagh Crossmolina Belmullet Knock Killala Newport Louisburgh Balla Charlestown Ballindine Bonniconlon Kilkelly Ballycastle Kilmaine Shrule Mulranny Cong Town/Village Totals 28,544 4,954 Achill Island 2, Other Areas Totals 34,684 5,194 8

9 APPENDIX 2 Estimated Vacant Stock in County Mayo (Source GeoDirectory Q3 2017) 9

Council and Town Council Crests. Proposed Amendments to Draft Mayo Housing Strategy 2008

Council and Town Council Crests Proposed Amendments to Draft Mayo Housing Strategy 2008 1 SECTION 3: HOUSING REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS Proposed Amendment HS1 Page 16 Add new section Current Local Authority