Skip to main content
Normal View

Local Authority Housing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2007

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

Questions (1024, 1025)

Michael Ring

Question:

1117 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to change the legislation regarding voluntary housing which would allow long term tenants of voluntary housing dwellings to be allowed to purchase their dwelling outright; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20048/07]

View answer

Written answers

There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes sector for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, indicated that consideration would be given in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on the incremental purchase model.

The modalities of such a scheme have been the subject of ongoing discussion between my Department and representatives of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector including the Irish Council for Social Housing and National Association of Building Co-operatives. My Department is liaising with a number of these organisations with a view to selecting a number of potential projects for inclusion in a pilot tenant purchase scheme. The introduction of such a scheme including any legislative element, will be determined as soon as possible.

Michael Ring

Question:

1118 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on newly appointed tenants of local authority housing having to pay a week’s rent and a week’s rent in advance when signing the tenancy agreement, particularly for people who are in receipt of social welfare; and if he will review this procedure in view of the obvious financial hardship it causes. [20049/07]

View answer

Local authorities are responsible for the adoption of their differential rents schemes and my Department has no direct function in their administration. However, my Department's circular letter HRT 3/2002 laid down broad principles in relation to the content of local authority differential rent schemes. These include that the rent payable should be related to income; that a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; and that provision be made for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases, where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship.

Top
Share