Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2015
550. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the feasibility of a purchase-to-rent scheme to provide long-term social housing tenants with the option of purchasing the residence in which they have been housed through housing agencies such as the Respond! Housing Association, Túath Housing and Clúid Housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40042/15]
View answerApproved housing bodies (AHBs) such as Respond, Túath and Clúid are organisations approved under section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 to provide social housing support in conjunction with local authorities.
Since the late 1980s, AHBs have been providing social housing under various capital funding schemes underpinned by mortgages. More recently, a scheme was introduced that provides an up-front capital payment of up to 30% of the property value to facilitate AHBs in raising private finance to acquire or build new social housing units. The capital advanced is repayable at the end of a payment and availability agreement, usually after 30 years.
Under the terms of these various funding schemes, AHBs are the de facto owners of these properties and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement. On expiry of the mortgage period and subject to compliance with the terms of the funding agreement, the AHB becomes the owner of the property.
My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to tenants. Any such decision would have to involve the AHB concerned and have regard to the mortgage on the property.
