Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
482. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to allow tenants of approved housing bodies to buy their homes as per a scheme similar to the one that is available to local authority tenants. [41658/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the various funding schemes supporting the delivery of social housing by approved housing bodies (AHBs), AHBs are the de facto owners of the properties concerned and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement. My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to tenants. Any such decision would have to involve the AHB and have regard to the mortgage on the property. On expiry of the mortgage period and subject to compliance with the terms of the funding agreement, the AHB becomes the owner of the property.
Section 45 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 does provide for the sale by housing authorities and AHBs of designated new houses to eligible households, subject to specified terms and conditions. However, any such sales would have to be progressed by the AHBs. There are currently no proposals or plans for a tenant purchase scheme in relation to AHB houses.
