Astrid Madsen
Self-builders will not have to pay local authority development levies until the end of the year, waiver for water and wastewater connections only extended to October, the ROI government confirmed on April 24, 2024.
In this article we cover:
- Details of the extension
- How much self-builders can save
- Record levels of building thanks to the levy holiday
- Update on First Home Scheme and refurbishment grants
- Update on Help to Buy
- Sign the petition to extend the waiver for self-builders indefinitely
The waiver was due to expire today, but the government had already signalled it would be extending it to the end of the year.
Water connection charges are flat rates and total around €6k between water and wastewater connections. The rates haven’t changed in five years.
Record levels of building were recorded in the first quarter of 2024, with 12,000 new homes started in the. This is the highest Q1 figure since records began in 2014, up 63 per cent on the same period last year.
“Without question, the Development contribution waiver and Uisce Éireann connection rebate scheme has led to a surge in new home starts and provided a much needed jolt to our supply pipeline,” said Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien.
Selfbuild is gathering signatures to extend the waivers indefinitely for self-builders only.
Progress Reports
The government also published a progress report, showing the vacant property refurbishment grant received 7,530 applications with an approval rate of 60 per cent (4,376). In total, 265 applications are complete and grants paid out.
The Help to Buy Scheme supported almost 2,000 to buy their first home in the first three months of this year.
Meanwhile, there were 809 approvals and 262 homes purchased under the First Home Scheme in Q1 alone. Approvals are up 38 per cent compared to Q1 2023. Given the success of the Scheme to date, the government has committed an additional €40 million.
English