The re-use and regeneration of vacant and derelict properties in County Laois can provide essential housing, while also being a catalyst to transforming areas and the communities living in them. Derelict or vacant properties can come to the attention of the local authority either from their own engagement, through carrying out a vacancy survey, through identification of properties on the derelict sites register, or by other means. Members of the public can report vacant properties on www.vacanthomes.ie or directly to the Council by e-mail to vacanthomes@laoiscoco.ie.
The Council has a key role to play in the activation of these properties, bringing them back into use. The Council will endeavour to engage with the property owners to facilitate their return to use. Compulsory acquisition is one of the measures that local authorities can use, particularly when other forms of engagement with owners of vacant and derelict properties have been unsuccessful.