Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
429. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for when legislation will be introduced to give tenants first refusal on purchasing their home if the landlord is selling it, or failing that, offered for purchase by an approved housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12968/23]
View answer446. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if proposals to give first refusal to tenants, where their landlord seeks to sell their property, will include measures to offer second refusal to local authorities. [13104/23]
View answer484. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide further details on the plan recently announced in the media, of a scheme similar to the tenant in situ for households that are above the social housing income limits. [13538/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 446 and 484 together.
On 7 March last the Government decided that the “Winter Emergency Period”, under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022, will cease on the 31 March 2023. This will see deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.
In addition to the on-going and additional measures taken to put in place increased options, including the tenant in situ scheme, to mitigate the impact of the end of the emergency period, Government has now also agreed on a number of new measures.
This includes developing a legislative provision which may require a landlord selling a property to offer “First Right of Refusal” to a tenant. In order that tenants would have as full an opportunity as possible to purchase the home, I have also issued a request to the First Home scheme Designated Activity Company to expand its eligibility so that in instances where tenants have received a notice of termination they would be eligible for support under that scheme.
In addition, I am developing proposals for a bespoke cost rental model which would see a provider, such as an Approved Housing Body, avail of this First Right of Refusal to purchase the property and allow tenants who have received a notice of termination, and who are at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports, continue to reside in the property. I intend that the cost rental tenant in situ backstop will be applied on an administrative basis from 1 April prior to legislative enactment with a view to supporting households at risk of homelessness.
The details of these schemes are in the process of being advanced and full information will be available in due course.
