Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

525. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to include tenants of houses acquired by local authorities under the part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2021 in the tenant purchase scheme; if not, the options available for tenants of these properties who wish to purchase their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33902/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 (as amended).

The regulations provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people in need of social housing support. My Department monitors schemes such as this on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable, however, there are no plans to amend the scheme at this time.

There are a number of options available to those who wish to purchase their own home outside the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme, as set out below. A number of these schemes can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.

Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme

Local authorities will make newly built homes available at a reduced price for first-time and other eligible buyers who cannot afford to purchase a home at its open market value with a maximum mortgage and 10% deposit. The local authority will take a percentage equity share in the home equal to the difference between the open market value of the home and the reduced price paid.

This means that if a home is purchased at a 20% reduction on the open market value, the local authority will have a 20% equity share in the home.

Eligible applicants are able to apply for affordable housing in all local authority areas that are providing affordable homes under the scheme. Each local authority’s website should be referred to in the first instance for further information. For more information visit www.affordablehomes.ie.

First Home Scheme

The First Home Scheme provides finance to help first time buyers, self-builders or those making a fresh start to bridge the gap between a deposit and mortgage, and the price of a new home. This Scheme takes a percentage ownership of your home, which you can buy back later. For more information on the scheme visit www.firsthomescheme.ie.

Local Authority Home Loan

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and certain other eligible applicants who have been refused a mortgage or have been offered insufficient mortgage offers through a regular mortgage lender. The scheme is for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. It also includes the purchase of homes through Affordable Housing Schemes, with the exception of the First Home Scheme.

The Local Authority Home Loan is available nationwide from all local authorities. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available at the following link: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.

Help to Buy

The Help to Buy scheme can help with a deposit for a new or self-build home. It is a refund on income and DIRT tax paid in Ireland in the last four-years. The scheme comes under the remit of Revenue and the Department of Finance. Information on Help to Buy is available at the following link: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

A list of affordable housing supports available under Housing for All can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/, this includes information on the schemes above.