TableofContents
3.ForewordPaulCandonPresident
4.AboutHardwareAssociationIreland
5.BackgroundRationalefortheSurvey
6.Methodology
7-8Recommendations
1.Expandthenumber,theroleandtheresponsibilitiesofvacanthomes officers
2.
3.EnhancedandFlexibleGrantStructures and TaxReliefonCapitalExpenditure
4.IntroduceaGraduatedVacantPropertyTax
5.SimplifyPlanningandFireCertification
6.FlexibleComplianceStandards
7.EnergyEfficiencyIncentives
8.SupportforTradesandConstruction
9.AccesstoAffordableFinance
9-15SurveyFindings
16TheHAIExecutiveCommittee
BackgroundRationalefortheSurvey
Thevacanthomegrantisverysuccessful withsingledwellings-thereare11,327applications,7,700ofwhichhavebeenapproved nationwide;(atendDecember2024)however,ithaslittleattractionforthosewhocouldconvert commercialpropertiesintoanumberoflivingunits.
Firstfruits-weestimatethatthereare20,000emptyhousesthatcouldbeconvertedatan similartothemarketpriceofsecond-handhousesinthearea.Afurther20,000 unitscouldbeconvertedfrom** properties-whentherightincentivesarein place.
Togetherthistotals40,000additionalhousingunits.
Inthissurvey,HAIspoketotwokeystakeholdergroups=
a.Ownersof propertiesthatcouldbeconvertedfromtheircurrentuseto livingaccommodation.TheseownersaredrawnfromHAImembersnationwide.Inthe maintheyarehardwareshopowners,representativeofasubsetofpropertyowners,not theentiremarket.
And
b.EstateAgentsandAuctioneers.Theyareexpertsinproperty,dealinginpropertyatscale andhaveagoodideaastowhatincentiveswouldworkforpropertyownersandforthat reasonwespoketothem.
Thefocusinthissurveyistofindoutwhatincentiveswillworktoencouragecommercial propertyownerstoconverttheirpropertiestohomes.
Italsoexaminestheoverallperceptionandexperienceofthesepropertyownersandexperts.
*Allincost=fullcostofpropertyincludesallpurchaseandrenovationcosts.
*Itdoesnothavetobeashopandsecondlyitcouldbeenvisagedthattheoriginalshopmayno longerbethere,andthattheoriginalflooroftheshopcouldalsobeconvertedtoliving accommodation.
Methodology
Methodology
Thesurveyquestionnairewasagreedinadvance.Anemailsurvey-SurveyMonkeywasusedto collectthedata.
Insightsgatheredareamixofquantitativeandqualitativedata(voxpops).Thesevoxpops corroboratethedatagathered.Whilethevoxpopsarenottobetakenastheexpressedopinionof HAItheyareforthrightviewsofkeystakeholderswhohaveexperienceandknowledgeofthearea.
TheSample
Thesampleswere:
EstateAgents
Timeframe
LateJanuarytomid-February2025.
Respondents
Responseswerereceivedfrom28HAImembers 110 estateagentswhoareexpertsinthisfield.
SurveyFindings
PotentialsNumberandTypesofUnits
Chart1:PotentialNumberofUnits
Q:Wouldyousaythattherearemany/some/afewcommercialpropertiesinyourareathatcouldpotentiallybe convertedintolivingunits?
Levelsofvacancy/disuse-57%of respondentsstatethattherearemany commercialpropertiesintheirareathat couldbeconvertedintolivingunits.35% saythattherearesomewhileonly8%say thatthereareafewintheirarea.This indicatesthattheyareawareofthescaleof opportunity.
Chart2:PresentUsage
Q:Atpresent,whatisthispropertyusedfor?
Presentuse-16%ofthe propertiesarecompletelyempty.In50%of casestheupperfloorsarecompletely empty.Only30%oftheupperfloorsare usedforstorage-sooveralllessthanone thirdofpropertieshaveupperfloorswith anycurrentusage.
Chart3:PotentialType/HowManyUnits
Q:Howmanyunitscouldyourpropertyorpropertiespotentiallyprovide?
Accordingtotherespondents,in87%ofcasesthecapacitywouldbetoprovidetwounits.
ConstraintsandIncentives
Chart7: -notapriorityatthemoment.
CurrentThinking
Ofpropertyowners,70%havegiven seriousconsiderationtorenovatingand rentingthepremiseswhilefor30%itis notapriorityatpresent.
Chart8:
toRenovateandRent,whyhaveyou/propertyownersnotdonethis already?-(PropertyownersinGreen,EstateAgentsinBlue)
Constraints-For70%ofpropertyownerswhoaregivingseriousconsiderationtorenovating andrenting,byfarthepredominantreasonfornotdoingsoisthatthecostandtheexpenseof doingitoutweighsthefinancialbenefit.
Thenextconstraintmentionedareproblemsregardingthefirecertificateand complicationsinobtainingplanningpermission.
Ashortageoftradespeopleandalackofaccesstofinancearealsocitedasconstraints. Difficultbuildingregulationsarealsomentioned.
Reformstoplanningandfireregulationswhilenoted,areseenassecondary considerationswhencomparedwithfinancialincentives.
Chart9:IncentivesRequired
Q:Inyourexperience,whatwouldhavetochangetoencouragethem(propertyowners)toconvert thepropertyintohousingunits?
