Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
334. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position for a pensioner buying out their own home under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9114/22]
View answer351. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person aged 62 years who is not working due to major disability following an accident and wishes to purchase their local authority house is being refused due to fact that they are unable to work; his views on whether this is fair; if the decision will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9255/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 351 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides that, as the Minister, I may set out a minimum income required to purchase under the scheme. The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose - it ensures the scheme is sustainable and that the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period.
Government has recently reduced the minimum reckonable income required under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. This means older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, are now eligible to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so. These changes came into effect on 1st February 2022.
Further changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
