Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the advice available from his Department to local authorities as they facilitate long-term leasing arrangements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6018/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities require a range of flexible options to meet the variety of housing needs of the households on their social housing waiting lists. Similarly, there are a range of delivery mechanisms and programmes available to local authorities that make the most of the opportunities in the private rental market, in the approved housing body sector and the housing construction sector generally. My Department works closely with local authorities in the operation and ongoing management of these programmes to ensure they continue to meet the conditions of the property market and are being implemented appropriately at a local level. Local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) are available to discuss proposals with owners of all types of properties who are interested in making properties available for social housing. Properties must be of good quality and can be new or previously occupied. Each local authority and approved housing body will also assess the suitability of properties proposed with reference to the housing needs that have been identified for that area and for overall compliance with planning and building control. In return, the local authority or AHB will enter into a legal arrangement which can include a long term lease with the owner for the use of the property for an agreed term and guarantee rent payments for the term. Property owners interested in making their properties available to local authorities using one of these contractual arrangements can discuss this with their local authority directly. Alternatively, the Housing Agency publishes information for property owners in this regard

The operation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is underpinned by Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, a tenant sources their own accommodation and the tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord. As with other private rental tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) governs the relations hip between landlord and tenant; the length of the tenancy, therefore, is a matter that must be agreed between the landlord and tenant in that context.

Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household.