Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
136. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to voluntary housing bodies which have sold their stock on to their former tenants once all statutory obligations including mortgage repayments were completed; the details of these transactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28625/21]
View answerTo date my Department has not been made aware of voluntary housing bodies, also known as an Approved Housing Bodies (AHB), selling units to their former tenants once all statutory obligations have been completed.
My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for the sale of AHB homes to their tenants as the ownership of these properties remains with the AHB. If an AHB is in receipt of funding under a scheme for the provision of social housing, they must comply with the terms and conditions of that scheme. Under such schemes, the AHB is required to make the property 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. In accordance with Departmental Circular 19/2014, local authorities are requested to notify my Department on release of all mortgage charges to AHBs within their area.
If a property is owned outright by an AHB and it is not subject to public funding, the AHB may choose to sell that property, once this is allowed for in their constitution. It should be noted that AHBs must have, as their primary objectives, the relief of housing needs, and the provision and management of housing included within their memorandum of association or registered rules, as the case may be. The vast majority of AHBs are registered charities and, as such, they must also comply with the provisions of the Charities Acts in relation to the sale of charitable assets.
