Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:391. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied). [24072/23]
View answerTuesday, 23 May 2023
Questions (391)
Written answers
The Government is committed to increasing housing supply generally, including rental accommodation and to protect renters while retaining landlords in the system. In particular the Government is committed to the introduction of a meaningful and effective budgetary package for the rental sector to include both taxation and expenditure measures. Over the coming months, my Department and I will work with our partners in Government in line with this commitment.
To inform this work and as set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants. The review includes a public consultation process including targeted engagement with various stakeholders. The consultation will commence shortly and will continue for four weeks. This review will be essential in properly planning future policy for the residential rented sector including implementing measures to support both landlords and tenants and will conclude as early as possible.
Where a landlord has issued a notice of termination to a tenant, a number of measures have been introduced to support the acquisition of the property by the tenant or the local authority.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. A landlord who has issued a Notice of Termination to a tenant in and is interested in selling the property to a local authority should contact the relevant local authority.
The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports and have net household income of no more than €53,000. Local Authorities refer those at risk to homelessness to the Housing Agency, which may acquire these homes with tenants in place using designated capital funding. This scheme has been established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model, potentially in partnership with Local Authorities or Approved Housing Bodies.
If a household wishes to purchase the property in which they are residing, the housing officer in the local authority can advise of the potential availability of the First Home Scheme. The First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between the applicant’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of the home. Further details can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Or it may be appropriate in relevant cases to avail of the Local Authority Home Loan which is available for second-hand properties. It should be noted that the Home Loan and First Home Scheme are two distinct schemes and cannot be combined.