New council loan for house buyers
95 applications have been received in Carlow
FIRST-TIME buyers wishing to turn vacant or derelict properties into new homes can now apply to Carlow County Council for a loan to fund both purchase and renovation works.
The loan, which is an expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan was approved by government at the beginning of June and will support the purchase and renovation of homes eligible under the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This grant has proven popular locally, with latest figures showing that 95 applications have been received under the scheme so far, 48 of those approved.
Announcing the opening of the application process, minister Malcolm Noonan said it reinforces the government’s commitment to bring homes back into use.
“We have placed a special emphasis on tackling vacancy and dereliction across our country. We will continue doing everything we can to rejuvenate and regenerate our villages, towns and cities, making them even better places for people to call home.” The loan will be available from all local authorities and aims to make it easier to buy and renovate vacant and derelict properties.
“This government wants to help people to turn vacant buildings into lifelong homes and the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan is another way in which we are doing just that,” concluded minister Noonan.
More information can be found at purchaseandrenovationloan.ie.
