"Beds in sheds" to be fully rentable on open market

Micheál Martin said it “makes sense” to allow for a “variety of accommodation options”, and that the measure was about “alleviating pressures on the housing sector”.

The Government is to exempt modular units up to 45 square meters in size in gardens at the back of people’s homes from requiring planning permission.

There had been talks in the Government about whether to bring such dwellings under the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme, which allows someone who rents a room in their home out to earn up to €14,000 tax free.

Concerns have been raised by homelessness charity Threshold that “substandard” garden units could be rented out without appropriate inspections under the proposals, and that such “garden homes” should only be used by carers or family members.

On Tuesdsay, Mr Martin said he accepted it was “a new departure”, but added that the Government would keep the measures under review.

“We believe they should be available for rent, we’ve reached an accommodation on that, and that will be the proposal,” he said.

“It is about supply, it’s about alleviating pressures on the housing sector. Our population is growing, we are part of the EU, many people come from the EU to work in Ireland in many of the tech companies and our health services and so on.

“So having a variety of accommodation options, I think, is important and makes sense.”

Asked what had changed about the Government’s stance after it initially said the units would not be used for private rental, Mr Martin said they needed to be “practical”.

He said he did not believe parents would build a modular home costing “up to €80,000 if it couldn’t be used” for private rental after their son or daughter had moved out after several years.

He added: “We do accept it’s a new departure, but we will keep it under review and if we need to change or amend that in two years’ time following a review, I think we will.

“Momentum is everything because our population is growing, we have a lot of pressures on our housing system.”

Housing Minister James Browne said the cabins would be of a “very high standard”, and that the details would be provided after proposals are approved by the Cabinet.

“These will be brought to Cabinet, and we’ll be able to provide more detail, obviously, after that point, once the Government has approved it,” he said.

“But these have been very well thought out, and they will have their own facilities within those units. I mean, these will be of a very high standard, and abide by building regulations.”

The Taoiseach and Mr Browne were speaking at a sod-turning event in Fairview, Dublin, at a site where construction has begun on 779 apartments.

The homes are due to be completed at the end of 2028, while Richmond Village is due to be fully completed by 2029.

Mr Martin said Tánaiste Simon Harris was at an event in Drogheda marking the construction of 600 houses, and tomorrow Mr Browne would also be in the Co. Louth town for an event relating to a further 600 new homes.

“So all told, we will be turning the sod on 2,000 new housing units. That is very significant momentum in terms of the housing issue facing this country,” he said.

Minister Browne said there would be more than 36,000 homes built this year.

During a speech at the event at Fairview, Mr Martin said sod-turnings mark the point where “plans turn into reality” and that “the pipeline is growing, and confidence is strong”.

He said: “We need many, many more developments like Richmond Village, not just here in Dublin, but right across the country, so that people have houses that they can afford.

“We appeal to people to work with us and communities to work with us, to enable the younger generation to get access to houses that they can afford to either buy or to rent – that is the critical issue.”

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.