Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to amend the criteria for the mortgage-to-rent scheme, given that applicants are being rejected based on family size and if a house is too big, despite this more than likely having been the family home for many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11286/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes in operation through my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA- mortgage-to-rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (AHB-mortgage-to-rent). Both schemes assist families with income difficulties whose mortgages are unsustainable, and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. Both schemes are part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the mortgage arrears resolution process.

The package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government in May 2015 included a number of amendments to the AHB-mortgage-to-rent scheme which will enable more properties to qualify, and make it more flexible and accessible to borrowers. Amendments made with effect from July 2015 include raising the valuation thresholds for properties, flexibility in relation to the size of properties, more efficient assessment of a borrower’s eligibility for social housing support and flexibility to allow cases of marginal positive equity to avail of the scheme. LA-mortgage-to-rent scheme was subsequently amended with effect from March 2016 to align that scheme with the AHB-mortgage-to-rent scheme. Together these amendments have the effect of providing more householders with access to the schemes with the impact already being evidenced by an increase in the number of applications being made.

Information in relation to local authority mortgage arrears, the local authority mortgage arrears resolution process (MARP), LA–mortgage-to-rent and the help available to borrowers is also available on my Department’s website: .

My Department continues to keep the operation of both Mortgage to Rent Schemes under review.