Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2017
262. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person (details supplied) applied for the mortgage to rent scheme; if they were refused; if so, the reason therefor; the advice which can be given to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44370/17]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who are eligible for social housing support whose mortgage is unsustainable and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any individual case but I understand that this particular case has not been the subject of a MTR application to the Housing Agency. A MTR case would have to come within the criteria applying to the scheme in order for a lender to make the scheme available to a borrower.
A review of the MTR scheme, published in February 2017, introduced a range of amendments to the eligibility criteria and administration of the MTR scheme in order for it to work better for borrowers. Included in the key amendments to the scheme is a requirement that where a lender assesses a borrower for MTR and deems MTR not to be an option then the lender must notify the borrower in writing of the reason that it deems MTR not to be an option. This requirement became effective on 27 March 2017.
