Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
162. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consideration his Department has given to the role long-term leases, or ‘life-leases’, can play in the Irish rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49043/23]
View answerLong term lease arrangements, including the enhanced lease, of privately owned dwellings can be entered into by either local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Under these arrangements the local authority or AHB acts as the landlord to the tenant. The terms of these agreements are set out in standard template agreements provided by my Department, which must be used by all local authorities and AHBs. Agreements may be entered into for periods of between 10 and 25 year.
Under the Housing for All plan, long term leasing, which includes Enhanced Leasing, will be ended by 2025. Housing for All long term leasing targets have been assigned to 13 Local Authorities to deliver 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing from 2022 to 2025, tapering down from 1,300 units in 2022 to 200 units in 2025.
Housing for All commits to ending long term leasing by the end of 2025. This policy remains unchanged. Notwithstanding this, leasing continues to be an important mechanism for expedited delivery to meet social housing needs as build supply ramps up to meet demand.
