Publication
Housing for All: Available supports
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
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Through Housing for All, the government’s national housing plan to 2030, housing supports are available that aim to make housing more affordable and more energy efficient. The plan recognises that significant new supports are needed so that those who want to own their own home can do so, and that those who wish to rent are able to do so at an affordable rate. The plan provides supports to make homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower energy bills.
Housing for All aims to deliver over 300,000 new homes between now and the end of 2030. This target includes 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The plan also aims to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030 to a B2 or Cost Optimal BER standard.
Affordable housing is being provided in two ways:
- affordable homes to purchase, available through a number of schemes
- affordable rental housing, provided through a model known as Cost Rental
The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme is an incentive for first-time buyers to help with their deposit for purchasing or self-building a new home. Those availing of the scheme must purchase or self-build the property to live in as their home. Those who meet the required conditions will receive a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland. The refund will be from the four tax years prior to when the person made their application.
Under changes made to the scheme in 2020, the maximum payment is €30,000 under the enhanced relief. The cap applies per property rather than per applicant regardless of how many people enter a contract.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme makes local authority-provided homes available at a reduced price for first-time buyers, and Fresh Start applicants, whose combined mortgage and deposit will not cover the market price of the newly built home.
Through the scheme, a local authority takes a percentage equity stake (share of the ownership) in the home equal to the difference between the open market value of the property and the reduced price paid by the purchaser. The homeowner can buy back the local authority’s equity stake at any time but does not have to.
Each participating local authority has its own scheme.
The First Home Scheme aims to support eligible first-time buyers and Fresh Start applicants by bridging the gap between their deposit and mortgage, and the private market price of the new home (subject to regional price ceilings).
The First Home Scheme is open for applications. For more information on the scheme and how to apply, please follow the link below.
The Local Authority Home Loan is a government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers or ‘Fresh Start’ applicants. It is available nationwide from all local authorities for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from regulated financial providers to purchase or build a home. Eligible first-time buyers can apply for a Local Authority Home Loan to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to build their own home.
A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies to the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme. This means that people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone insolvency proceedings, are eligible to apply under this Scheme. It is available nationwide from all local authorities.
Cost Rental is a new form of long-term, sustainable home rental. Cost Rental is targeted at is targeted at middle-income households with incomes above the social housing limits.
Under the Cost Rental model, homes are provided with rents that are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. In general, rents will be targeted at 25% below private market rents in the area.
The MTR scheme offers households in acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears situations, with little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community. As part of the scheme, the home will be brought up to private rental standards.
Under the scheme, you voluntarily surrender ownership of your home to your mortgage lender. An Approved Housing Body or an approved private company can then buy your home. You no longer own your home or have any financial interest in it. However, you can continue to live there as a tenant of the local authority or approved housing body. You pay an affordable rent, which is based on your income. So, if your income increases the rent increases, but if your income falls the rent decreases. This means that your rent is always affordable.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a scheme to support the sustainable reuse of vacant properties. Funded by the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, the scheme is helping to bring vacant and underused buildings back into residential use and is ensuring that existing housing stock is being used to the fullest extent possible. It is also providing new choices for people to live in all cities, towns, villages and rural areas in Ireland, supporting their future growth and development.
Two types of grant exist:
Vacant properties: a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of a vacant property into a principal private residence or to be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property that has not been used for residential purposes before. The property must be vacant for two years or more and be built before 2008.
Derelict properties: a maximum of €70,000 is available for the refurbishment of a derelict property. For a property to be deemed derelict (that is, structurally unsound and dangerous), the applicant must confirm this by submitting an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional along with the application form. The property can also be deemed derelict if it is on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register. Evidence that the property was built before 2008 and that it is vacant for two years or more will also be required.
The grant is inclusive of the VAT cost of the works. Local authorities administer the scheme.
A Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may be available in combination with this grant. The SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme covers works of up to €26,750.
More information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers (self-builders). These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site. They will be sold for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site. The discount will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser.
More information on the Ready to Build Scheme.