Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
653. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes bought under the cost rental tenant in situ scheme, broken down by local authority, in 2022 and in the first six months of 2023; how much was spent on each home; the size of these homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36955/23]
View answer654. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the process for those eligible for the cost rental tenant in situ scheme to avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36956/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together.
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. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
The current household income limit for scheme eligibility is €53,000 net. This limit is currently under review having regard to recently announced changes to cost rental eligibility limits from 1 August 2023.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the local authority that tenants should first approach.
If the local authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS they will pass the details of the tenant and the property to the Housing Agency for consideration for potential acquisition. The Housing Agency will then engage with the tenant and the landlord with a view to acquiring the property. The Housing Agency will partner with an independent third party, potentially an Affordable Housing Body (AHB), to manage and maintain the homes.
It is the longer-term intention of the scheme, however, 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 CRTiS eligibility criteria align with those in the standard Cost Rental framework.
The scheme is administered by the Housing Agency and, as of the end of Q2 2023, 68 cases had been referred to the Housing Agency by 21 local authorities. It is intended that data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis.
