Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
224. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the situation where a tenant receives a notice to quit a tenancy and the reason given by the landlord is that they intend to sell the property; can the local authority step in at this stage whilst the tenant is in place and attempt to negotiate a tenant in situ property purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45918/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
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. Individual property owners can contact the relevant local authority to advise a property is for sale which may be suitable for a tenant in situ acquisition
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. Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and offer the available supports, which may include a tenant in situ acquisition or support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy.
