New regulations relaxing the planning rules for home extensions, garden accommodation and the subdivision of existing homes will come into effect from July 27.
Homeowners will be able to construct a detached residential unit, or modular home, linked to the main house without planning permission, subject to size limits.
Homes will also be able to be subdivided into two self-contained until without planning permission, as long as each unit has a minimum floor area of 32 square metres.
The changes are designed to “create new housing options” for people and give homeowners “greater freedom and flexibility to make decisions about their own property”.
However, the changes have been criticised by some, including opposition parties and housing charity Threshold, for not giving enough protections to renters of the properties.
Renters of the buildings will be designated as licensees, the same as people who rent a room in someone else’s home, and therefore will not be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, with disputes dealt with through contract law.
Fianna Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim Eamon Scanlon has been speaking to Midwest Radio’s Scott Stephens, who asked him why the government have brought in the changes…
