New log cabin exemptions

dublincc2

Just seen the news today that log cabins in the back garden are to be exempt from planning. Prior to this if one wanted to build a 40 sq m cabin for living in it had to be joined to the rear of the house.

There doesn’t seem to be any upward limit for this, however. I have not seen any mention of height limits or how large the units can be, as long as they are on private property. This may lead to issues along the line unless clearly defined.

This may sound facetious but there is some element of genuine concern. Under the new rules, it appears once could hypothetically (obviously assuming in this scenario they have enough land and funds) erect the Burj Khalifa or Empire State Building in their back garden, call it a shed and rent it out to 30,000 people. Is that theoretically possible?

Not that I believe that’s obviously going to happen, but this is Ireland and any loopholes in such laws are certain to be taken advantage of, on a smaller scale than the extreme example I gave.

RichardAnd

Who knows. I'd imagine the intent of the law is to allow slum kings and queens to build in the gardens of their tenements.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058397170/new-log-cabin-exemptions

The exemption will restrict the structure to single storey height, or whatever the current garage exemption height is.

What this will result in is a massive amount of Airbnb spaces rather than extra permanent accommodation

PopePalpatine

I'm almost certain the 40sqm refers to the total floor space of the structure, not the actual space it's taking up on the ground.

Fair play to whoever can build a skyscraper on 40sqm, especially if they do it in a NIMBY hotspot.

elperello

Presumably any structures built under the exemption will still have to comply with fire regulations.

I'm not sure if there are any construction standards in place for such structures.

Ash.J.Williams

For what died the sons of roisin 😀

El Gato De Negocios

Unless there are strict and actually enforced guardrails around this then it's going to be a fuckin disaster, ripe for exploitation.

My assumptions:

The 40 Sqm includes an extension already on the main house.

The minimum private space requirement remains.

It is unclear if the 40sqm is internal or external measurements. Many CoCo use external for sheds. While internal is used for extensions, I believe this maybe from Case Law.

They are talking about needing to be 2m from Boundary Wall with Joe Duffy at the moment. That just leads to dead space in the garden.

Claw Hammer

At the moment the 40sqm can only be used for an extension. creating another dwelling is not exempt. The only exception is a granny flat but these are only allowed when there is a granny and on condition that when there is no longer a granny, the building is converted to a single dwelling.

Caranica

There are no new rules yet. Speculating on the details is a waste of time at this stage

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123187433#Comment_123187433

totally, we have one here. Cabin out the back, in the main house which is by design and planning a three bedroom the front room downstairs is also converted into a bedroom. Must be about 8-10 people living on the property.

Just another sad proposal to clearly state they cannot meet demand and tackle the housing shortage. Hey stop pointing at us the politicians, you can always stack a few cabins out the back.

SuperBowserWorld

There is already a thread for this ...

"Plans afoot to look at granny flat exemptions."

... perhaps they should be merged ...

dennyk

There will obviously be restrictions on any such exemption. There already are strict height restrictions on the existing 25 square metre exemption for non-habitable garden sheds and such, and on the current exemption for 40 square metre attached extensions (they can't be higher than the house, and if any part is above ground level then the floor area limit for the part above ground is 12-20 square metres depending on house type). The 40 square metres is also the total floor area of the extension, not the footprint, so no one is going to be building the Steinway Tower in their garden, even absent any other restrictions.

Despite the claims that this is just to help families house their adult children who can't afford a place of their own, though (which would be a sad enough commentary on the state of things as it is), it's obvious this is really to allow Dublin slumlords to throw up some cheap sheds in their investment properties' gardens to rent out for €1500+ each without having to worry about getting into any bother with the council. Hell, there are plenty of illegal shed conversions up on Daft already as it is.

mrslancaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123187525#Comment_123187525

Probably a stupid question but here goes.
The current exempted development is 25sqm for a shed/greenhouse/garage plus 40sqm for an extension that is attached to the house.
Will the proposed change for free standing log cabins up to 40sqm still allow the 25sqm shed or garage to be exempt? Could there be a total of 65sqm of buildings in a back garden?

Or is it that the 25sqm ‘shed’ is to be increased to 40sqm?

RichardAnd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123187941#Comment_123187941

There was a fairly well known case in Beaumont a few years ago of a "landlord" who was renting a house out to at least a dozen Roma gypsies. The story was that a few of them were living in a shed in the garden heated by an oven with no door. This was before the housing crisis really kicked in too, so this particular slumlord was clearly a trail blazer.

My own question is why those dozen or so gypsies were in Ireland to begin with, but that never got asked, obviously.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188163#Comment_123188163

The minister said on RTE this morning that the proposed change in law that that the exempt 40m Extension no longer has to be attached to the house. In theory this has no effect on the 25 meter shed rules, but I am sure some coco officials may think differently. Is your shed a basic shed or a posh shed may become an issue :-)

elperello

By definition all of these developments will be at the rear of the house.

Out of sight, out of mind.

In reality unless the neighbours object there will be little oversight.

TimHorton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188687#Comment_123188687

Object to what?, They (40sqm separate dwelling) will be exempt.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188208#Comment_123188208

My own question is why those dozen or so gypsies were in Ireland to begin with, but that never got asked, obviously.

Romania are in the EU, they are as entitled as any EU citizen to live in Ireland.

Is it actually impossible for you to leave your xenophobia out of any thread?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188712#Comment_123188712

Things like fire regulations and whatever other standards that will apply.

Presumably this won't be a free for all to throw up any any sort of a shack under 40 SQM.

RichardAnd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123189056#Comment_123189056

For someone who seems concerned with xenophobia, I would have thought that you would understand the difference between Romanians and Roma gypsies….

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123189208#Comment_123189208

I'll admit my error as I misread your post as Romanian gypsies.

I stand by my point on you bringing your xenophobia into every thread.

RichardAnd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123189310#Comment_123189310

Sure you did, Gary…

Spanish Eyes

I'd be ok with it TBH, and I have zero vested interest. I think I'd be looking for sign off on building regs/control like they do in the UK. Is such a sign off required for the current 40sq m exemption when attached to the house?

Then that would cover adherence to the sq metre rule, sewage, fire, insulation whatever the feck is necessary to stop cowboy constructions.

Another thing to consider is access. Down the side gate I suppose and through the garden. Those in terraces will not be able to enjoy a backyard cabin with separate access though, will they? Anyway…

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123189394#Comment_123189394

Maybe I'm a cynic… actually scratch that, I know I'm a cynic, but I think for every place where a log cabin fits in cleanly, with full access, and a little outside space and doesn't look like too much of a difference in styles, we will see 3 or 4 which will immediately make you think "how did that get planning permission??", to which you will then remember "oh yeah, planning permission was exempted for these".

Strumms

so in other words. Shanty residential dwellings will be popping up in garden after garden all over the country to deal with this hous…. sorry population crisis, and won’t be subject to any planning laws or scrutiny. Nice one.

What could go wrong ? Maybe a shed load of these outhouse properties not built to fire safety or general safety standards ? That is going to be a major issue im betting.

A load of botched plumbing jobs with DIY clowns or fly by nighter cowboys trying to save a few bob and trying to connect properties to the mains and sewerage system.

You need appropriate state expert oversight for housing. Regardless if stone, brick, wooden, built in a big field, or someone’s garden FFS. This no planning is a recipe for disaster.

Country continues to descend into an absolute farce the way it’s being ran, we are in real danger as a country of descending down the rabbit hole of idiocy and shortsightedness, that we won’t be able to climb back out.

Idbatterim

YEah... fully support this idea. Other far better run countries than ours allow them. Twenry thousand for a mini home on your own land and no sharing, rip off rent, and every other conceivable headache is over... tens of thousands saved on renting and tolerating landlords and housemates bullshit. In a totally detached structure...

I agree with them regardless. But this country won't do infrastructure, it won't do high density, it won't address build costs and it won't introduce meaningful property taxes... what do you expect, other than a shitshow ?

RichardAnd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123189629#Comment_123189629

Behold, a back garden on the North Circular Road circa 2030. Why it would make any globalist weep with joy.

Idbatterim

https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://betterplanning.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ADUs-Ireland.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiIzrXD5NCLAxX_WkEAHWr3IvAQFnoECD4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2cZkmmipqOJbLtz2F9kg-d

Lads what's the issue with these pretty much entirely obscured structures, when the city is rampant with in your face, dereliction, housing nobody?

touts

Tens of thousands of over shop units that used to be homes are now empty because they don't meet required standards. That has hollowed out most town centers and made them no go areas at night. But now it will be acceptable to put people in a shed out the back of a house with basically the same standards.

Ah lads can we not get some joined up thinking here. Let's get the already structurally built over shop units back up to a livable standard before we start digging up every back garden to build new units. Or could we at least do them at the same bloody time.