Written answers

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

House Purchase Schemes

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering a new scheme to allow for the purchase of individual houses by tenants of voluntary and co-operative housing schemes; if he will base this scheme on the incremental purchase model; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4297/16]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under the terms of the various funding schemes overseen by my Department, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are the de factoowners of the properties concerned and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement.  My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to tenants. On expiry of the mortgage period and subject to compliance with the terms of the funding agreement, the AHB becomes the owner of the property.

There are no proposals or plans at present for a tenant purchase scheme in relation to AHB houses. While Section 45 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for the sale by housing authorities and AHBs of designated new houses to eligible households, subject to specified terms and conditions, any proposals in respect of AHB properties would have to be developed in consultation with the Approved Housing Bodies concerned.

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