Roscommon to tackle housing list by renting privately

Home-owners in Monksland now have the opportunity to rent out their properties to Roscommon County Council for between ten and 20 years. It's part of a national initiative introduced by Housing Minister Michael Finneran through the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It's another way of increasing the council's stock of social housing and also an attempt to fill vacant houses in developments that have sprung up over the last decade. "It's a new longterm leasing scheme and it's how social housing is to be administered going forward," said Fianna Fáil Cllr John Keogh. "It's the only way forward. The council will have 69 new houses available in Monksland by the end of this year. The houses are being built and owned by the council but there's around 300 people on the housing list. It's a new way and the only way to tackle the housing list. The capital is not there (for building or buying). We have to use the existing housing stock." Cllr Keogh said that the scheme is open to anyone who has a property available to rent that is suitable. However, although the council has received expressions of interest from around the county, interest from property owners in Monksland has so far been low, although that could be due to a lack of awareness around the area, he added. The properties will be used by the council to house individuals and families who qualify for social housing support for that length of time. The council is ideally looking for houses less than five years old, however apartments will not be considered. A rent equivalent to 80% of the market rent would be paid to the owner. Interested owners can find out more from www.roscommoncoco.ie or phone the Housing Office at 090 6637238.