Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
70. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes acquired to date under the new cost-rental tenant in situ scheme; the number that have been served a notice to quit under the extended tenant in situ scheme for tenants in receipt of housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6724/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen the moratorium on winter evictions was lifted, the Government introduced two schemes that aimed to reduce the risk of homelessness for renters who are served with a notice to quit. The tenant in situ scheme for renters in the private sector gave reassurance to many desperate tenants. I would like to ask the Minister of State about the number of homes acquired under both schemes, as the latest figure I have is from October of last year, which notes that only two homes were acquired under the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme.
The Government has developed the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is managed by the Housing Agency pending further policy development over the longer term, with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard cost-rental model.
Tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell a property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports, and have an annual net household income not exceeding €66,000 in any of the Dublin local authority areas or €59,000 in the rest of Ireland, are eligible to apply. I am informed that the Housing Agency is engaging with more than 130 landlords across all local authority areas, with a view to the purchase of those homes.
With regard to the tenant in situ scheme, my Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and approved housing bodies in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a notice of termination issued to a tenant, and is available for all local authorities to the end of quarter 3 of 2023 on the statistics page of our Department's website.
The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, mentioned 1,800 units in the tenant in situ scheme, if I am correct. Further to that, we have been notified of certain cases where local authorities will not proceed with an offer as the value of the home is too expensive. Could the Minister of State inform us of the price guidelines or caps given to local authorities for these acquisitions?
There are price guidelines for each local authority. I do not have them to hand here. With regard to the number of homes acquired under the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme to date, 47 bids have been accepted to the end of quarter 3 of 2023 since the launch of the scheme on 1 April 2023. Those bids will obviously be expected to rise over the coming months.
Are the guidelines for the price caps available online?
They are, yes.
I will come back to that one. Finally, could the Minister of State give an update on the legislation for first refusal, which would oblige landlords to offer the property to tenants for purchase before putting it on the open market?
The guidelines are there and they are consistent with local authority housing purchase. Local authorities do have some discretion with regard to those.
Could the Minister of State answer on the first refusal legislation?
That legislation is in preparation at the moment.
We have time for one more question, and not full time.
