Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
541. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the terms and conditions of the tenant purchase scheme to include income from the rural social scheme when purchasing a rural local authority house now that the six-year time limit has been removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1301/23]
View answerThe 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 the Minister 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 the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period.
In determining reckonable income, local authorities are directed to disregard non-permanent income sources, including the Rural Social Scheme. Given the recent removal of the six-year time limit for participants on the Rural Social Scheme it may be appropriate to reconsider income from the Rural Social Scheme as a reckonable income under the Tenant Purchase Scheme.
Any changes in relation to income disregards may be considered together with other potential changes to the Tenant Purchase Scheme currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
