My Department has not placed a general prohibition on local authorities purchasing second hand homes other than derelict homes or one-bed or four-bed vacant properties.
Given the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on many of the social housing construction sites, I announced additional measures to support the delivery of social housing in April 2021 including a programme of targeted acquisitions by local authorities – see www.gov.ie/en/press-release/30a86-minister-obrien-announces-plans-to-boost-social-housing-delivery/ . In that, I particularly asked for a focus on one and four-bedroom properties which are in short supply (including properties that allow persons/families to move from homelessness), on vacant and derelict properties that can be brought back to use and on specific properties for people with disabilities or other particular priority needs. My overriding emphasis was that local authorities avoid acquisitions that compete with private buyers (owner occupiers) and that continues to be the case.
In situations where landlords are selling a property rented to a person or a family in receipt of social housing supports, it is expected that local authorities deploy their tenancy sustainment officer in the first place, to seek a resolution to the situation if possible.
In the context of the priority acquisition areas and the emphasis on avoiding competition with private buyers, I also asked local authorities to identify their own strategic priorities in relation to other categories of housing acquisitions they might propose to undertake. This recognises that there are different challenges and priorities in different local authority areas. Officials of my Department are in ongoing contact with local authority colleagues regarding areas such as acquisitions so the overall approach to acquisitions should be well understood. Within the strategic priorities a local authority has set for itself, the decision on individual acquisitions is a matter for each individual local authority.
