The Housing Agency and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) jointly hosted a lunchtime webinar on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in managed residential estates, such as apartment developments.

David Rouse, advisor with The Housing Agency, discussed legal relationships in managed estates, and the relevance of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 to landlords and tenants. Emer Morrissey, Assistant Director, Head of Dispute Resolution at the RTB, addressed rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants and dispute resolution in the context of managed estates.

The views expressed by the speakers in this video are not necessarily those of The Housing Agency. All information correct as of broadcast date: 3 November 2020.

Ireland shares many housing challenges with other developed economies, for example, providing the right housing in the right places, addressing affordability and ensuring that our housing stock contributes to sustainability - both sustainable communities and environmental sustainability.

Delivered in a virtual format, The Housing Agency's Housing Conference 2020 will explore these challenges in themed mid-morning sessions over the course of a week. Each session will provide expert input, followed by questions and discussion.

The final session will provide an opportunity for housing practitioners to network and learn about opportunities to further their professional skills and career development.

Participation in each webinar is free, but advance registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Download the Housing Conference 2020 Agenda

To register for each webinar please click one of the links below:

All times above are Irish Standard Time

Please note that these sessions may be recorded for future use.
 

The Housing Agency's vision is to promote sustainable communities.

Recently The Housing Agency hosted 'Building Sustainable Communities: National & International Perspectives', a series of webinars that considered some of the key elements of future resilient and sustainable communities. Many thanks to our expert speakers for contributing to the series.

Aligning the provision of housing with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, The European Green Deal, and the National Climate Action Plan 2019 is a response to ensure that housing will be put on a more resilient and sustainable path.

The positive impact of housing and communities; economic effectiveness; inclusion and participation; and cultural adequacy (Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing). The Autumn webinar series built on topics discussed in the Summer webinar series and explores four topics which can facilitate a more resilient and sustainable approach to housing: EU funding for building sustainable housing; the German DGNB Sustainable Building Certification; Community led town centre regeneration; and Sustainable Transport and Housing.

Please click below to view each webinar. Alternatively, view the complete playlist on The Housing Agency's YouTube channel.

The views expressed by the speakers in these videos are not necessarily those of The Housing Agency. All information correct as of broadcast date.

• Financing the future of housing: Insights on EU funding for sustainable housing from across Europe
  A panel featuring: Lily Maxwell, European Federation for Living; York Ostermeyer, Chalmers University; and  Marie Longueville-Chouteau, Vilogia. (15 Oct 2020)
   
• People Power: Community-led town centre regeneration in Dumfries, Scotland
  Scott Mackay, Midsteeple Quarter project (22 Oct 2020)
   
• Mobility makes sense: Walkability, neighbourhood design and the future of mobility and housing in Ireland
  Lorraine Darcy, Technological University Dublin (30 Oct 2020)
   
• Making sustainability happen: Insights from Germany on the DGNB Sustainable Building Certification System.
  Levan Ekhvaia and Stephan Anders, DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) (5 Nov 2020)

The State could save €900 million over 30 years[i] as a result of direct public investment in Supported Housing for older people, research conducted by The Housing Agency has found.

‘Thinking Ahead: The Financial Benefits of Investing in Supported Housing for Older People’, found that, by supporting people to live in homes suited to their needs, an average annual Government saving of €4,650[ii] per person can be made, compared to that individual remaining in their current home or moving into long term residential care.

The figures are based on the provision of Supported Housing for 11,400 people over the next 10 years, a number derived from expected projections in Ireland’s population aged over 80 during this time period.[iii] 

Supported Housing is housing built specifically for older people, offering some level of care and support.

At the launch of this research today, co-authors Roslyn Molloy and Rory Mulholland outlined the range of Supported Housing options explored and the benefits derived from each:

·        Independent Living accommodation (where a low level of additional services would be required) provided through social housing for one older person would generate an annual benefit of €4,700.

·        Assisted Living accommodation (where there may be a healthcare manager, housing manager, or an activities coordinator on site, and day care/primary care centres nearby) provided through social housing for one older person would generate an annual benefit of €5,200.

·        Specialised Living accommodation (where social and healthcare staff would be on-site, meals would be provided, and care supports would be available 24-7, similar to nursing home care) provided through social housing for one older person would generate an annual benefit of €2,200.

Privately-funded Supported Housing could potentially generate annual savings of €4,000, €9,200 and €20,000 for each accommodation type respectively. Additional savings from private provision are due to the absence of capital costs being met up-front by the State.

Launching the report, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke TD, said:

“As a nation we are living longer, and the number of older people in our population is set to grow significantly in the next ten years. In response, this Government recognises the need to plan ahead to meet the housing and healthcare needs of an ageing population. This research is a significant step in our ongoing work in this area.”

Chief Executive of The Housing Agency, John O’Connor, said:

“While this research began pre- Covid-19, its relevance as we continue to deal with the global pandemic is clear. This year has shown us the power of community.

“Through Supported Housing, many older people can remain in their own communities and maintain a level of independence that would otherwise be lost. It strengthens their connection to family and friends, and provides them with a secure home.

“For many people, residential nursing home care may be the most appropriate form of care into their later years. However, for many the availability of a Supported Housing option would provide a welcome alternative and come with a significant saving to the State. Such savings come from preventing or delaying the need for an older person to access nursing home care, but also by reducing the care needs of those who would otherwise stay in standard accommodation.”

Research outlined in Thinking Ahead: The Financial Benefits of Investing in Housing for Older People was conducted as part of a range of recommended actions under the policy statement ‘Housing Options for Our Ageing Population’, published by the Government in March 2019. 

The Housing Agency and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) will jointly host a lunchtime webinar on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in managed residential estates, such as apartment developments.

David Rouse, advisor with The Housing Agency, will discuss legal relationships in managed estates, and the relevance of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 to landlords and tenants.

Emer Morrissey, Assistant Director, Head of Dispute Resolution at the RTB, will address rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants and dispute resolution in the context of managed estates.

The hour-long session will take place at 12pm on Tuesday 3 November 2020.

Click here to register

Registration is required to participate in this free webinar. To register please click above or visit https://zoom.us/j/93563175057?pwd=Y1NVYUFVQnZGSW5RZm0yY0gra2l1dz09. Places are limited to 1,000 participants, on a first-come first-served basis.

Webinar Programme

• Introduction & background
• Presentations:
  • David Rouse, The Housing Agency
  • Emer Morrissey, Residential Tenancies Board
  • Q&A

Please note that this session will be recorded for future use.

The Housing Agency has  welcomed the announcement of significant investment in housing in Ireland, as set out in Budget 2021.

With a total housing allocation of €3.3 billion – a 24 per cent increase on Budget 2020 –Budget 2021 provides not only the largest investment in housing in Ireland to date, it also indicates a significant commitment to a long-term approach to addressing Ireland’s housing and homelessness challenges.

Welcoming the €110m package of affordability measures outlined at the comprehensive budget briefing from the Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage today, The Housing Agency’s Chief Executive John O’Connor said:

“The Housing Agency welcomes Minister O’Brien’s commitment to a sustainable, and long-term investment in affordable homes for purchase or rent. Our vision is to promote sustainable homes and communities; this budget represents a commitment to that vision.

“In particular, we welcome the investment in affordable purchase shared equity and cost rental homes. Long-term investment in affordable housing is a critical measure to achieve affordability for households into the future.

“With plans to deliver 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing programmes, including building 9,500 new social homes, The Housing Agency looks forward to working with the Minister and his Department to achieve the ambitious targets set out in the Budget.

“We will also work with local authorities, approved housing bodies, and the broader housing sector to deliver a sustainable investment in affordable homes for purchase or rent.

“The Housing Agency’s role in housing policy, support and delivery has expanded in recent years, the allocation of €10.8m to the Agency reflects our commitment to deliver homes in sustainable communities to meet current and future needs.”

Download our Infographic

Aligning the provision of housing with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, The European Green Deal, and the National Climate Action Plan 2019 is a response to ensure that housing will be put on a more resilient and sustainable path.

The positive impact of  housing and communities  can  be  increased  through  the  application  of  principles  of  environmental  protection;  economic  effectiveness;  social inclusion and participation; and cultural adequacy (Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing). The Autumn webinar series builds on topics discussed in the Summer webinar series and explores four topics which can facilitate a more resilient and sustainable approach to housing: EU funding for building sustainable housing; the DGNB Sustainable Building Certification; Community led town centre regeneration; and Sustainable Transport and Housing.  

They are presented in a weekly one-hour webinar which provides an opportunity to learn about interesting research from national and international experts, discuss the latest developments, and engage with ongoing projects.

Participation in each webinar is free, but advance registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

To register for each webinar please click one of the links below:

Please note that these sessions may be recorded for future use.
 

The Housing Agency currently has a number of housing research and education support opportunities.

Research Support Programme

The call for applications for the second round of the 2020 research support programme is now open. Please see the links below for further information and to apply.

Please note the new, extended closing date for this programme: midday, Wednesday 4 November 2020.

Research Support Programme Information
Research Support Programme Guidance for Applications
Research Support Programme Application Form
Research Support Programme Ethical Framework

Housing Education Bursary Scheme

Recent years have seen significant developments in the areas of housing delivery and policy. Housing professionals will play a key role in shaping future developments in the sector. The Housing Agency is committed to supporting the education, training and development of housing practitioners, as well as those interested in developing a career in housing. The Housing Education Bursary Scheme will empower housing professionals to build resilient and sustainable communities in Ireland.

The Bursary Scheme wishes to support students and housing professionals seeking to enrol in housing the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) Certificate in Social Housing, commencing January 2021. 

For more information  download the bursary application form.

Please note that applicants are required to make separate applications for both course attendance and this bursary scheme if they wish to avail of the bursary.

The Housing Agency and the Construction Bar Association of Ireland recently hosted a lunchtime webinar about recent developments in law affecting high-density housing and MUDs.

The views expressed by the speakers in this video are not necessarily those of The Housing Agency. All information correct as of broadcast date: 29 September 2020.

Speaker Bios:

Anita Finucane BL was called to the Bar in 2014. She practices and lectures in the areas of common law, chancery and non-jury matters and construction law. Anita is a member of the Bar Council 2019/2020 and Chair of the Young Bar Committee. Anita coordinates the relationship between the Association and the Young Bar.

Mema Byrne BL is a practicing barrister, member of the Law Library since 2003, and elected member of the Bar Council of Ireland. Mema has a wide civil practice with an emphasis on commercial disputes and property law. Mema is a Chairperson with the Mental Health Commission, an Adjudicator with the Private Residential Tenancies Board and a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. She specialises in landlord and tenant, housing, land law, conveyancing, probate and local government law. Mema is the author of “Landlord and Tenant- The Commercial Sector” (Round Hall, 2014), and has contributed to the Conveyancing and Property Law Journal and the Local Government Law Review. Mema has previously lectured in land law, landlord and tenant law, and company law.

Patricia Burke, BL With many years’ experience in the commercial world, both domestically and internationally, Patricia practises in land law, and commercial landlord and tenant. She specialises in resolving commercial disputes – contract and company. Apart from her commercial practice, she also specialises in the area of probate and trusts.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has extended the pyrite remediation scheme to include the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council, which will see homeowners of dwellings with significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in County Limerick eligible to apply for remediation works under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.

Previously, only the owners of dwellings located within the counties of Kildare, Meath or Offaly or the administrative areas of Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown or South Dublin were eligible to apply for remediation works under the scheme.

€20m was provided under Budget 2020 to cover the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme and is a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings. This will bring to approx. €150m the total funding provided under the scheme since 2014.

The latest figures available indicate that up to 2,800 applications have been received under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme. Of these, 2,000 dwellings have been remediated under the scheme at an average cost of approx. €70,000 per dwelling.

Commenting as he visited the 2000th home to be remediated under the scheme in Balbriggan Co. Dublin, Minister O’Brien said, “I am very glad to extend the pyrite remediation scheme to the people of Limerick and I fully intend on ensuring that ultimately all eligible homeowners of dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave can have their homes remediated under the scheme,” he concluded.

The Housing Agency undertakes the remediation of properties affected by pyritic heave once accepted into the scheme through the Pyrite Resolution Board.

Pyritic material is naturally occurring in rock which was inadvertently used as stone fill under concrete floor slabs but is unsuitable for this purpose as it is subject to expansion over time when exposed to moisture. The expansion commonly causes severe cracking of floor slabs and other building elements and can make dwellings uninhabitable.

The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 was enacted to put in place a scheme for the remediation of dwellings adversely affected by pyrite.  The Act established the Pyrite Resolution Board who consider applications to the scheme and oversee the procurement of the remediation. Implementation of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme is by The Housing Agency.

The remediation process involves excavation and replacement of the entire ground floor structure within a dwelling, including all associated replacement of finishes, plumbing and electrical services. It normally requires the scheme participant to vacate their home for 3 months while the works are completed.

Full details of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, including details of how to apply are available from the Pyrite Resolution Board website at www.pyriteboard.ie.