Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024
254. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the rules of the tenant purchase scheme where one tenant has been a tenant for over ten years and the other tenant has not. [38508/24]
View answer266. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reduce the timeframe for which a person must be in receipt of housing supports in order to qualify for the tenant purchase scheme. [38763/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 266 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses which are available for sale under the scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and Housing (Sale of Local Authority House) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
Changes to the Scheme took effect from 29 January 2024 with the introduction of the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. Amongst the changes were, in the case of joint tenant applications, only one tenant must now be in receipt of social housing supports for at least 10 years in order to qualify, as determined by the local authority in accordance with the rules of the scheme. This is a change from all tenants having to have been in receipt of social housing supports for at least 10 years previously. Social housing supports include HAP, RAS or 10 years tenancy of a local authority dwelling, or a combination of these supports.
My Department monitors schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, I can advise that there are no plans to further reduce the timeframe for which a person must be in receipt of social housing supports in order to qualify for the scheme at this time.
