Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2014
440. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the social housing leasing initiative that he proposes will play a larger role in the delivery of social housing, if he will provide full details of this initiative; the length of these leases; the number of landlords he expects to take part in this scheme; and the details of all negotiations with landlords in this regard. [47190/14]
View answerThe Social Housing Leasing Initiative (SHLI), introduced in 2009, is a continuation of a process commenced with the introduction of the Rental Accommodation Scheme to develop a system of flexible and graduated housing supports to households.
To date, under SHLI, my Department has issued approval for over 8,400 housing units to be brought into social housing use. Of the units approved for leasing, over 5,500 are tenanted or in the process of being tenanted. A further 1,500 units have received full funding approval and negotiations and legal agreements are being finalised. The remaining units are at approval in principle stage.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I launched recently, contains a number of actions to reform the delivery and management of social housing and one such action will be to increase the delivery of accommodation through the leasing initiative.
Since the initiative was announced in 2009, SHLI has expanded on a number of occasions to provide for new types of supply and to involve a wider range of agencies and bodies in delivering or managing leased accommodation. In that context housing units are acquired in a number of ways and through a variety of sources. As well as the direct leasing of units by local authorities and approved housing bodies, units can also be purchased by approved housing bodies using capital advances and payment and availability agreements, or by entering into mortgage-to-rent arrangements. The units delivered through SHLI are also sourced from a variety of sources including those provided by NAMA, units leased or purchased from the private market, and the use of unsold affordable dwellings held by local authorities to accommodate households in need of social housing support.
In respect of units leased through the Scheme, individual lease agreements can vary from 6 months to 30 years depending on the need in the area, type of agreement being used and the specific local authority requirements.
While my Department provides funding to local authorities and approved housing bodies to facilitate the scheme, negotiations with property owners to enter into lease agreements in respect of individual units or groups of units are undertaken by the local authority or approved body, subject to the general terms and conditions of the scheme.
