Annual Report 2011 - Roscommon County Council

Housing and Building
Housing Loans
Applicants can be considered for house purchase loans for persons who did not previously
own a dwelling and for reconstruction loans to modify or extend existing houses. Applicants
must meet specific income criteria and the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations
2009, sets out new requirements and process for the approval of loans by a local authority.
The maximum house purchase loan that can be advanced is €220,000 depending on the
applicant’s ability to repay and the maximum house improvement loan is €15,000 (unsecured)
and €38,000 (secured).
Shared Ownership
This scheme facilitates access to full home ownership in two or more stages and is designed
primarily for first time buyers who meet certain income criteria. Suitable applicants must
acquire a minimum equity of 40% in the dwelling initially and rent the Council’s equity with
an undertaking to acquire the Council’s equity within 25 years. 21 loans have been advanced
under this scheme.
Affordable Housing Scheme and
Sale of Private Sites
The Junior Minister for Housing announced a standing down of Affordable Housing
programmes in June 2011 and has commissioned a comprehensive review of Part V of the
Planning & Development Act 2000.
Improvement Works in-lieu of
Local Authority Housing
Approved applicants for re-housing can renovate or extend their existing accommodation
as an alternative to accepting a local authority house provided their existing dwelling is
considered suitable for improvement. This scheme is funded from the Council’s Internal
Capital Receipts.
Mortgage Allowance Scheme
Tenants or tenant purchasers of Local Authority dwellings who surrender their existing
accommodation and purchase a property in the private market with a minimum mortgage
of €38,092 qualify under the scheme. The allowance of €11,428 is offset against mortgage
repayments on a sliding scale over a 5-year term.
Tenant Purchase Scheme
Tenants of non-vested Council houses appointed for at least 12 months are eligible to apply
to the Council to purchase their existing accommodation. The market value of the property
is determined by the Council. Tenants are entitled to a discount of 3% off the market value
of the property for each year of tenancy, subject to a maximum of 10 years in addition to an
allowance of €3,810 for first-time buyers. Exemptions apply.
In 2011 the Government introduced the 2011 Fixed Term Tenant Purchase for tenants in local
authority houses for over 10 years. The 2011 scheme provided for a maximum discount of
45% on market price, based on 3% discount for each year of tenancy up to 15 years. The
closing date for applications under this Scheme was 31st December 2011.
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