Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
48. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress of the tenant-in-situ and the cost-rental tenant-in-situ schemes, including a timeline on bringing in legislation to ensure that the tenant or local authority have first refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33205/23]
View answerIn response to the end of the temporary pause on the effect of Notifications of Termination, the Government decided earlier this year to introduce the initiatives referred to, or in the case of tenant-in-situ to make greater provision of its use. These measures are in the context of the overall Government ambition set out in Housing for All, to deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026.
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 and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
While data published to date does not include a breakdown of properties acquired where a tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property, from Q1 2023 an amendment has been made to my Department's statistical returns to collect information in this regard. This data is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced as an interim measure, developed on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This temporary scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:
• is not able to or intending to purchase the property from the landlord,
• does not own other residential property,
• is assessed by the Local Authority to be at risk of homelessness,
• is not in receipt of social housing supports (i.e. the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Residential Accommodation Scheme (RAS)), and
• has an annual net household income of no more than €53,000.
It is the longer-term intention to transition these tenancies and homes to the standard framework for Cost Rental, where rents are set at a level to meet the costs of acquiring, managing, and maintaining the home. It is for this reason that the net household income limit of €53,000 (gross income less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions) aligns with the standard income limit set for Cost Rental housing.
If applicant incomes are above the limit to be eligible for cost rental tenant in-situ scheme, tenants can contact their local authority who will be in a position to advise them of other measures which may be appropriate for their specific situation. Data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis from Q2 in the statistical returns.
My Department is continuing to develop policy proposals for the First Right of Refusal, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and I intend to update Government on progress in this regard shortly and to bring legislative proposals forward in the Autumn.
It is important to note that there is currently no legal obstacle to a sitting tenant and a landlord agreeing a contract for sale of a rented home, where the tenant has the means to do so. Tenants are encouraged to ask if they can purchase the property if they feel they are in a position to do so or to contact their local authority for help to remain in the property, either as owner occupier or renter.
