Laois is second in Ireland for reletting council homes
The redeveloped Presentation Convent site in Portlaoise, which provided 52 new homes for council tenants. File image
LAOIS has one of the fastest turnaround times for reletting council houses to new tenants, according to an independent report published this week.
It takes an average of 16 weeks for council homes to be relet in Laois, second only to Monaghan (11 weeks) in terms of a short turnaround time for reletting to new tenants.
The fast turnaround compares with 49 weeks in neighbouring Co Kildare and a national high of 66 weeks in Kerry. The average nationally is 32 weeks.
Laois also had one of the lowest vacancy rates for council homes at 1.3 per cent last year, compared to 4.8 per cent in neighbouring Co Carlow and 5.07 per cent in Co Kilkenny. The national average was 2.4 per cent.
The figures are contained in the latest annual report from the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), which was established in 2014 to provide independent oversight of the local government sector.
Published on 17 September, the audit examines the performance of local authorities nationwide under 11 headings that include housing, roads, fire services, planning, recreation, water and library services.
Laois Co Council gets a high rating in the new audit, particularly in relation to social housing with a short turnaround time and low vacancy levels.
Laois also had one of the lowest average spends when preparing council homes for new tenants, paying an average of €19,041.42 per unit this year compared to €56,927.58 in Co Kildare. Laois Co Council relet 79 homes so far this year, according to the report.
Meanwhile, maintenance of council properties in Laois cost an average of €1,127.93 per unit last year, which is mid-range nationally.
The audit shows that Laois Co Council owned 2,488 residential properties as of 1 January, 2025 and a further 76 homes were added to its stock during that year, either through construction or acquisition.
Three council houses were sold in the county last year. By the beginning of this year, the council owned a total of 2,561 homes around the county.
According to the report, the percentage of adults in emergency accommodation who are classified as long-term homeless is among the lowest in Laois at 23.26 per cent, compared to 64.38 per cent in Offaly and 57 per cent in Carlow.
Summing up the social housing picture nationally, the report says: ‘Housing remains a key area of concern. Despite ongoing initiatives to increase supply, the number of housing units added to stock fell by 18.78 per cent compared with 2024, continuing a pattern of limited growth in annual output.
‘On a positive note, vacancy levels have reduced to their lowest point since 2015 to 2.44 per cent, representing 3,866 vacant dwellings, but average reletting times remain above 32 weeks, with little improvement despite substantial increases in reletting expenditure.’
