Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
224. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps a family can take in a situation in which a landlord is happy to sell to a housing agency through the tenant-in-situ scheme to ensure the tenants of 14 years standing can remain in the community in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54319/23]
View answerThe Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023, for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord has served a valid Notice of Termination due to an intention to sell the property. The Housing Agency may purchase the home and allow the tenant to continue residing in it, where the tenant is not in receipt of social housing supports and has a net household incomes within the limits set for Cost Rental housing (increased on 1 August to €66,000 for Cost Rental homes in Dublin and €59,000 in the rest of Ireland).
The reasons for not progressing some cases include tenants having net household incomes above the limits for Cost Rental, tenants vacating the properties, tenants ceasing engagement with the Agency or formally withdrawing their application. In addition, in some cases it is not possible to reconcile vendor expectations on price with the Housing Agency’s independent professional valuation of the property, or to achieve an overall capital cost within the Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department in April of this year for each Local Authority area.
Furthermore in some cases, very substantial works would be required to bring the property into compliance with the minimum standards for rental accommodation or to stabilise the physical condition of the property and make it suitable for long-term Cost Rental use.
Tenants at risk of homeless should also continue to engage directly with their Council’s Housing Department who can advise tenants in relation to their immediate and long-term accommodation options.
