Tipperary saw a drop in vacant social homes refurbished in 2022, but this may not be a bad thing

Tipperary County Council saw a drop in vacant social homes returned to use in 2022.

Figures released today by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show 111 units were returned to use last year.

In 2021 there were 130 units returned, and 131 in 2020.

However, according to the department, this is due to an intensive two-year period of funding, which has resulted in less need for refurbishment.

In a statement released today, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said

“Apart from the obvious advantages of meeting demand for social housing, the return of these 111 vacant homes in Tipperary has a positive impact on communities and avoids vacant homes becoming run down and derelict in some instances and the source of anti-social behaviour."

 “Tipperary County Council seized the opportunity to bring these homes back into active use in 2022 and this will make a real difference to the lives of 111 households."

Tipperary received €1,221,000 in 2022 and €2,804,811 in 2021.

The figures are from the Voids programme, which assists local authorities in preparing vacant local authority-owned properties to be re-let.

“It’s important to note and welcome the fact that nationally the number of vacant social homes requiring pre-letting works was lower in 2022 than in 2021 or 2020. This clearly shows that our plan is working.

“In 2020 and 2021, we spent more than €88M bringing 6,032 vacant social homes back into use, and evidently, we are reducing the number of voids in need of refurbishment works following those two intense years of tackling vacancy," said Minister O'Brien. 

In their statement, the department said the reduction in funding and units refurbished was expected.

“It was always envisaged that the programme would revert to more normalised levels in 2022.

Local authorities are continuing to transition from a response-based approach to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to social housing. This is based on stock condition surveys. The planned maintenance/voids programme in 2022 supported this.”