News

Appointment of Researchers - Research into the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011

The Housing Agency, in collaboration with the Construction Bar Association of Ireland, wishes to appoint researchers to provide research services in 2022 in relation to decisions of the Dublin Circuit Civil Court under the provisions of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011.

Further details, including criteria for assessment of applications, are set out in this specification.

Interested candidates are asked to apply by email to MUD@housingagency.ie with a CV and cover letter stating why he or she may be suitable for the role.

The deadline for receipt of valid applications is 5pm on Friday 22 April 2022.

Queries in relation to the above should be directed to MUD@housingagency.ie

Tenure Mixing and ‘Tenure Blind’ Design Key to Integrated Communities of Private and Social Housing Residents– Important Research of AHB Housing Flags Successes and Obstacles to Help Inform National Public Housing Policy –

A report being launched today (31st March), commissioned by the Housing Agency and the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and carried out by Professor Michelle Norris and Dr. Aideen Hayden of UCD finds that strong and integrated communities have developed among the private and social housing residents in mixed tenure estates, and that there is overwhelming support for tenure mixing as a key policy to combatting socio-spatial segregation. Over the past twenty years, the percentage of Approved Housing Body (AHB) owned or managed social housing located in mixed tenure estates has increased from 20% to 78.2%; this reflects state policy objectives and measures such as Part V.

The report, Social Housing in Mixed Tenure Communities, looks at social housing provided by approved housing bodies (AHBs) in mixed tenure developments, the reasons why decisions are made to cluster or disperse social housing in these estates and how well these models work from both AHB staff and tenant perspectives. An important key finding is that both clustered and dispersed social housing has worked well, despite the consensus in favour of the dispersal of social housing. ‘Tenure blind’ design of mixed tenure housing was considered more important (in both the research literature and case study interviews) for the integration of residents of different tenures than the location of the social rented dwellings. This can be applied in both clustered and dispersed settings.

The report also identifies that high standards of housing management are important for the success of mixed tenure estates but that management can be challenging, particularly in view of the stigma that still attaches to social housing. Approved housing bodies’ strong record in this regard is identified as another factor contributing to the success of the case study estates.

Speaking at today’s launch Donal McManus, ICSH Chief Executive says:

“This report documents a success story that needs to be shared. The majority of the AHB tenants, private owners and private tenants interviewed for the research agree that tenure mixing is positive. Also, initial homeowner preconceptions about AHBs and social residents becoming their neighbours, were alleviated over time. Interviews with social residents reveal that community integration in general is of greater importance than the location of their home, and that non-housing amenities, such as playgrounds and inclusion in residents’ committees can help cement the bonds of community. Critically too, the research interviews with AHB CEOs and staff did not identify any great difficulty in the management of mixed tenure over single tenure estates. The sector has the skills and knowledge required.”

The research identifies additional factors, such as procurement and funding models, as well as estate design, which influence the delivery and location of social housing in mixed tenure estates. A significant finding of the analysis is the important role that social housing plays in underpinning the financial viability of market housing provision in mixed tenure estates. The practical advantage for social landlords of purchasing whole apartment blocks for social housing, and the benefits this offers to developers faced with the upfront financing required to develop apartment blocks is helping to drive the clustering of this tenure. The report calls for a holistic assessment of the impact of residential density guidelines (intended and unintended) and research on ways of achieving density without relying entirely on high-rise.

Co-Author of the report, Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy, UCD says:

“This research represents important learning for us. The socio-economic issues arising from the spatial concentration of low-income households and the impact of social mixing have been much studied internationally. However, the volume of Irish research has been small. The lack of information on tenure mixing in Ireland represents a critical knowledge gap and its implementation as a policy may also be challenged given current developments in housing policy. This research aims to bridge these information gaps and raises important considerations for housing policy such as design (tenure blind) and layout, the tenure mix of neighbouring communities, density issues, appropriate funding to support management fees and planning and housing policy to support the monitoring of socio-spatial segregation.”

 Bob Jordan, Chief Executive of the Housing Agency added:

“The Housing Agency is strongly committed to promoting sustainable communities through mixed tenure. Approximately eight out of every ten homes owned or managed by Approved Housing Bodies are in mixed tenure estates and this proportion is likely to grow in the years ahead. This research shows that tenure mixing can improve the quality of life of the residents of all tenures and it can benefit surrounding neighbourhoods as well. Key to community integration is ‘tenure blind’ design, good estate management, the provision of amenities including playgrounds and community centres, and the work of residents’ associations. The Housing Agency is pleased to have supported this research and we look forward to advancing its recommendations.”

A video recording of the event is available on our YouTube channel here. 

ENDS

 Prof. Michelle Norris and Dr. Aideen Hayden are available for interview.

For further information and interview bids, please contact:

Sarah Kennedy, Communications Manager, The Housing Agency

Tel: 087 7041925

Email: sarah.kennedy@housingagency.ie

Notes:

• The report and executive summary are available for download in our publications section.
• The launch of the Social Housing in Mixed Tenure Communities is taking place on Zoom on the 31st of March at 11 – 12.30. You can register here: Webinar Registration - Zoom
• The research asks the following key questions:
  • To what extent are either dispersed or clustered housing models adopted in mixed tenure estates in which Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are active?
  • What are the reasons for AHBs in seeking to adopt either approach?
  • Are there best practice models which can provide guidance for AHBs in delivering social housing in mixed tenure estates?
• This research employed a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. These include:
  • Review of research literature, policies, memoranda, guidelines and administrative data.
  • Survey of Tier 3 AHBs that own dwellings in mixed tenure estates. 13 AHBs completed the survey, which is a response rate of 76%.
  • 5 case studies of mixed tenure estates were conducted involving 10 one-to-one interviews with key stakeholders in each estate.
  • 8 in-depth interviews were carried out with key informants who were not connected to specific estates but were knowledgeable and experienced in the area.

• Funding of Social Housing in Mixed Tenure Estates:

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency is a Government body working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in the delivery of housing and housing services. The Agency’s vision is to achieve an integrated housing system, meeting the nation’s housing needs and promoting sustainable communities. It does this by providing evidence-based housing insights and data that inform thinking and policy-making; by working with others to enable the delivery of housing solutions and to implement programmes and actions in Government housing policy; and by equipping itself and its stakeholders with the capacity required to respond quickly and effectively to challenges in the housing system. For more information, visit www.housingagency.ie or follow The Housing Agency on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Irish Council for Social Housing

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) was established in 1982 and is the national social housing federation of nonprofit voluntary and other national housing associations. The ICSH represents approximately 270 member organisations that own and manage 45,000 homes and house 100,000 people including families on a low income, older people, disabled people and households experiencing homelessness. ICSH members operate in every local authority area in the country and in over 500 communities across Ireland. www.icsh.ie

About the Researchers

Professor Michelle Norris is UCD Head of the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and teaches social policy on the Bachelor of Social Science and Master of Public Policy degrees. Her teaching and research interests focus on housing policy and urban regeneration, particularly on: the management and financing of social housing; the regeneration of social housing estates and inner urban areas; comparative analysis of housing provision in Europe and the history and socio-economic implications of Irish housing policy and its relationship with the welfare state. She has led over 20 research project on these issues since 2000 and produced 50 publications on the results. In 2011 she was appointed by the Taoiseach as an independent member of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and in 2012, was appointed by the Minister for the Environment as Chair of the Board of the Housing Finance Agency.

Dr Aideen Hayden is a PhD graduate of the school of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and received a 2016 UCD Alumni Award for Social Science. She is a former Senator (former Seanad Eireann Spokesperson on Housing, Children and Youth Affairs, Spokesperson on Finance and Spokesperson on European Affairs, as well as Vice-Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform). For almost three decades, Aideen has served as Chair of Threshold, the leading advice and advocacy organisation working on behalf of tenants in the private rented sector.

Housing Agency launches new National Office for Housing First

– Housing First programme aims to tackle long-term homelessness and provide holistic supports for those with complex needs –

A Housing First National Office has been launched today (02.03.22) by The Housing Agency, which also announced the appointment of Rob Lowth as the new National Director for the Housing First programme.

Housing First aims to eliminate homelessness for people with a history of rough sleeping and long-term use of emergency homeless accommodation, who have complex needs around mental health, substance use, physical health, and other social and behavioural challenges. It provides direct access to permanent housing, together with intensive housing and health supports delivered mainly in the person’s home.

The Housing First National Office is a new national directorate based at The Housing Agency, which – under Mr. Lowth’s leadership – will be responsible for coordinating and driving a national, cross-Government approach to Housing First, as set out in the ‘Housing First National Implementation Plan, 2022-2026’. Working in partnership with local authorities, HSE, NGOs and Approved Housing Bodies the office will:

• Support regional and local delivery of the Housing First programme;
• Oversee performance on the achievement of agreed Housing First targets; and
• Evaluate the processes used in implementing Housing First in Ireland.

Ireland’s Housing First programme is based on the Pathways Housing First programme, which was developed in New York in 1992 by Dr. Sam Tsemberis – as a response to the needs of people who were sleeping rough and who had severe mental health problems that necessitated frequent admissions to psychiatric hospitals

Launch of Housing First

Dr. Sam Tsemberis was a special guest at the launch of the new national office today, alongside Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Frank Feighan TD, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy.

Commenting at the launch, Minister O’Brien said:

"’Housing First’ is one of the key responses in ending long-term homelessness among those with complex health and mental health needs. It provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life as well as with key wraparound health and social supports. It is a key tool in our armoury in helping those who are at the sharpest edge of homelessness.

Under the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018-2021 a target of 663 tenancies was set.  By the end of 2021, this target was exceeded with 756 tenancies created.  The new Implementation Plan 2022-2026 has an expanded target of 1,319 new tenancies over the lifetime of the Plan.  I am determined that we will meet this target and we will seek any and all opportunities to exceed it.

The new Housing First National Office under the experienced leadership of Mr. Lowth will bring together all the relevant support services, ensuring there is greater cooperation and coordination in tackling homelessness. I want to wish him every success in his new role.”

Minister Feighan said:

“I strongly support the establishment of a Housing First National Office, to drive the achievement of the target of 1,300 tenancies. Housing First puts people who are long-term homeless at the centre of government policymaking and requires our public services to prioritise and respond in a person-centred way to those with complex health and social needs. 

 The Housing First national office builds on the excellent collaboration between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Housing and local authorities. It is my intention that a dedicated Dept of Health/HSE person will be part of the national office.”

Commenting today, Bob Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of The Housing Agency, said:

“Housing First is about supporting people who have experienced rough sleeping and long-term homelessness and providing them, first and foremost, with a permanent home, backed up by a range of intensive visiting supports tailored to each person’s individual needs. The establishment of this new Housing First National Office within the Housing Agency will help to drive forward the Government’s targets to provide a minimum of 1,319 additional Housing First tenancies by end 2026, bringing the total number of people supported under the Housing First programme to around 2,000 individuals.

“Rob Lowth has extensive experience in delivering services to people experiencing homelessness. Previously, he served as Head of Homeless Services for Limerick City and County Council. We are delighted to have him on board as the new National Director for Housing First, and look forward to drawing on his expertise in the coming months and years to continue to provide sustainable, permanent homes for the most marginalised people affected by homelessness.”

Background to Housing First

The programme is based on the belief that people experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental illness or addiction should not have to prove they are ‘housing ready’ in order to avail of housing supports. It has three main components:

1. The provision of permanent, affordable housing;
2. Dedicated, tailored case management and treatment services for each individual (for example, access to mental health, health and addiction services, as well as housing supports); and
3. A programme philosophy based on client choice and recovery.

In Ireland, Housing First commenced in Dublin in 2011, following a successful pilot, and the programme has been rolled out nationally since 2018. Nine regional Housing First services – spanning every local authority and HSE Community Health Organisation area in the country – have had responsibility for implementing the programme, with statutory agencies collaborating with NGOs on local service delivery. These nine regional services will now be coordinated and supported through the new national office for Housing First, overseen by the National Housing First Implementation Group.

Thursday, 17th February 2022

The Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) and The Housing Agency have today (17.02.22) announced details of a competition that is looking for innovative ideas to improve Ireland’s housing sector. Called ‘Housing Unlocked’, the initiative is calling for architects, together with people from a variety of disciplines and members of the public with a common interest in housing, to team up and submit ideas to solve housing issues in Ireland’s cities, towns and villages.

Entries are open from today, with practical ideas and creative thinking being sought in the areas of density, construction technologies, social inclusion, environmental and other issues. A jury of high-profile judges will select eight submissions which will receive funding of €7,500 to develop their proposals into an exhibition piece. The exhibition will be open to the public in September this year.

Nathalie Weadick, Director of the IAF, said: “The aim of the competition is to encourage collaboration amongst housing experts and those with an interest and passion for creating inclusive communities to develop practical ideas to address challenges in housing. This is an ambitious and positive project asking for those working on the ground on housing to help progress some of the issues facing urban housing in Ireland. Public contributions at recent IAF debates have shown that there has never been a better time for design to rethink how we can deliver homes for sustainable communities in urban areas. ‘Housing Unlocked’ is driven by the need to apply innovation and expertise, not just to the final product, but to the entire system that delivers homes in towns, cities and villages. A simple idea can produce a powerful effect.”

Bob Jordan, CEO of The Housing Agency, said: “The Housing Agency is looking forward to being part of this project. We are seeking innovative and practical solutions that address the housing issues in Ireland. We are asking applicants to share practical solutions to the everyday issues that they are facing when it comes to delivering homes. We would like to invite architects, in collaboration with all those who are interested, to apply for the opportunity to be featured in the public exhibition later in the year.”

All submissions must be made through an online form on the ‘Housing Unlocked’ website at housingunlocked.ie, where further information is available. Entrants must include at least one registered architect. The closing date is midnight on 24th April 2022.

Contact: Maisie Lynch / Sorcha McMahon, Alice PR & Events, Tel: 086-8966298 / 087-7585337 / Email: media@alicepr.com

Notes to the Editor:

Images High-res images from the ‘Housing Unlocked’ launch photocall are available to download here.

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency is a Government body working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and approved housing bodies in the delivery of housing and housing services.

Its mission is to promote the supply of housing to meet current and future needs and demand by being a centre of expert knowledge on housing, supporting housing policy development and implementing effective housing programmes in collaboration with key stakeholders. For more information visit housingunlocked.ie

Follow The Housing Agency on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the IAF

Established in 2005, the IAF is an independent organisation dedicated to the promotion of architecture as culture. The IAF seeks to champion the power of architecture to transform lives and improve the places where we live, learn, work and play. For further information on the IAF, visit: architecturefoundation.ie

As you will be aware the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was established on the 1st February 2021 and all AHBs are deemed to be registered with AHBRA from 1 January 2022. The interim Regulatory Committee was dissolved on 31st December 2021 and as such, the Voluntary Regulation Code no longer applies. The most recent assessment cycle in 2021 was the last to be carried out by the Regulation Office. The Housing Agency wish to acknowledge those AHBs who have signed up to and engaged with Voluntary Regulation over the past number of years. You have demonstrated great commitment to meeting the Voluntary Regulation Code and Standards and provided support and co-operation to the Regulation Office in the operation of its duties. You should now be well placed to make the transition to statutory regulation.

If you have any queries relating to Statutory Regulation you should refer these to the AHBRA at info@ahbregulator.ie.

The website is available here. 

The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses?".

In this context, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, has established a Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing.

To date, the Working Group has been engaging with key stakeholders and stakeholder representative groups. Using an online survey, it is now seeking the experiences of:

• Homeowners (both current and former)
• Landlords (including private investor/owner, institutional/commercial, Approved Housing Body, Local Authority etc.)
• Directors of Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs)
• Property Management Agents

The Working Group is asking people to provide information on their experiences of defects relating to fire safety, structural safety and water ingress in purpose-built apartment and duplex buildings constructed in Ireland between 1991 and 2013.

Information is sought from people regardless of whether such defects in those properties are currently known, unknown or where no such defects have arisen. The surveys, an explanation on how the survey responses will be used by the Working Group, the Working Group membership, its terms of reference, and a privacy statement relating to the surveys can all be accessed on the Government of Ireland Website.

The surveys will run for six weeks from Monday 31 January 2022 to 5pm on Monday 14 March 2022.

Watch Video

On the 21st of July, the Affordable Housing Act 2021 was signed into law. It is the first standalone affordable housing legislation in Ireland and introduced a variety of measures to make homeownership more affordable for buyers. It also introduced cost-rental, a new form of tenure in Ireland that will provide secure, long-term rental properties at below-market rates.

In September 2021, "Housing for All - A New Housing Plan for Ireland" was unveiled. Under this plan Pathway 1 commits to increasing affordability using a range of mechanisms. These include a Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, Project Tosaigh, and the expansion of Part V. The Housing Agency has the expertise in house to assist with these new initiatives, including our Local Authority Services Unit, the Affordable Housing Unit, and the Procurement and Delivery Unit.

To find out more about affordability, new initiatives and schemes, and the Housing Agency supports available you can read the article in full here.

The Housing Agency’s Statement of Strategy, 2022-2024 was launched yesterday by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD.

The Statement of Strategy outlines how more affordable housing, increasing the supply of social and private homes and addressing social inclusion issues such as homelessness and ageing will be the priorities for the work of The Housing Agency over the next three years.

The Statement of Strategy frames the work of The Housing Agency under three broad themes:

1. Being a centre for housing knowledge;
2. Bridging housing supply and demand; and
3. Building capacity for housing

It outlines how, over the coming years, The Housing Agency will use research, informed policy insights and data to work to achieve a housing system that meets the housing needs of our nation and promotes viable, sustainable communities.

The Housing Agency’s Strategic Plan 2022-2024 has been framed in the context of supporting Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan for Ireland and key trends in the housing system including:

• Diverse and changing housing needs for people living in Ireland.
• Long-term government policy and strategic planning for the Irish housing system.
• A continuing focus on building inclusive, sustainable communities.

The Housing Agency’s Statement of Strategy, 2022-2024 can be read HERE 

An executive summary of the Statement of Strategy can be read HERE 

A list of actions The Housing Agency will provide input under Housing for All can be read HERE 

A recording of the session can be found HERE

The slides of the session can be found HERE

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, today announced a number of significant improvements to the ‘Mortgage to Rent’ (MTR) scheme for people who have borrowed from commercial private lending institutions and who are at risk of losing their homes due to mortgage arrears. The changes will result in more people being able to benefit from the scheme, which has been amended to reflect current housing market conditions and most up-to-date research on those in long term mortgage arrears.

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.   

The key changes, which will apply from 14th February 2022, are:

• an increase to the positive equity limit, which is being adjusted by region to align it with the range of house prices and market conditions across the regions
• purchase price thresholds updated to take account of current market conditions
• additional flexibility in the number of allowable bedrooms in a dwelling – this will apply for borrowers aged 65 and above, and borrowers who have a disability, or where a dependant has a disability.

The changes announced today follow a review of the MTR scheme by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A strengthened MTR scheme was a commitment in both the Programme for Government and in Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030. Housing for All commits to strengthening the scheme to ensure that it is helping those that need it, with delivery of an average of 1,000 solutions every year. In 2021, 678 borrowers availed of the scheme, more than three times the amount of borrowers (196) who availed of the scheme in 2019.

Announcing the changes at an event in Dublin held with iCare Housing, one of the non-profit Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) who participate in the MTR scheme, Minister O’Brien said:

“These changes will make life easier for many households in mortgage distress. For someone in mortgage arrears to lose their home is hugely difficult and stressful. Mortgage to Rent provides a solution to a complex problem by giving a person or family the option of remaining in their own home despite acute mortgage difficulties.

“It is the Government’s objective to keep people in their homes where it is sustainable and the Mortgage to Rent scheme supports that objective. Today’s changes position the scheme to provide a solution for 1,000 families per year from 2022, approximately 50% more than the number of completed cases in 2021, and towards a trebling of the number in 2020.

“It’s clear that there is continued demand for the scheme and I will keep the impact of these new changes under review and make future improvements if necessary. Ultimately we want the use of this scheme to be a long-term sustainable solution for the families and individuals for whom it is designed to assist.”

Speaking at the announcement, iCare Housing CEO David Hall said:

“The Government changes to the Mortgage to Rent scheme are good news for those in mortgage difficulties throughout the country. As an Approved Housing Body helping people with acute and unsustainable mortgage arrears to start afresh, we’re pleased to see scheme changes that will give more people a chance to stop the clock on financial stress, strain and uncertainty about the future and secure their housing situation. I’ve no doubt that these changes will give more families to chance to start again whilst staying in their own homes and communities.”

From the MTR scheme’s introduction in 2012 to the end of 2021, 1,682 families have remained in their home due to the scheme. A total of 5,012 individuals (2,738 adults and 2,274 children) are benefiting from the scheme. A further 720 cases are actively being progressed. In 2019, 196 families benefited from the scheme with a further 363 families benefiting in 2020. In 2021, the number had increased to 678.

Further information on the scheme is available from: www.mortgagetorent.ie

The most recent Mortgage to Rent Statistics can be accessed here

The review of the MTR is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed57b-2021-review-of-the-mortgage-to-rent-scheme-for-borrowers-of-commercial-private-lending-institutions/

Notes for Editors

MTR scheme

• The MTR Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions was developed as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Keane Report on Mortgage Arrears in 2011. It is one part of a concerted effort across the whole of Government to tackle the mortgage arrears crisis.
• MTR targets the most acute mortgage arrears cases where a situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in the householder’s circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme’s concept is that a household with an unsustainable mortgage goes from being a homeowner to being a social housing tenant. The borrower surrenders their property to their lender who sells it to a MTR provider which can be either an AHB or since 2018 a private company. The AHB or local authority (in the case where the property is sold to a private company) becomes the landlord and the tenant remains in the property paying a differential rent to the landlord based on his or her income. 

Key changes to the MTR scheme:

The key changes to the scheme that will apply from 14 February 2022 are:

• The scheme is to be amended to allow flexibility where the household concerned has more than two spare bedrooms in the following circumstances:
  • the borrower or one of the joint borrowers is aged 65 and over
  • the borrower, one of the joint borrowers or one of the borrower’s dependents has a disability and the property has been significantly and permanently adapted to their needs*
  • the borrower, one of the joint borrowers or one of the borrower’s dependents has a disability and the property is specifically suitable to their need without adaptations*

*The household must also qualify for Social Housing Support on Disability, Medical or Compassionate grounds in line with the local authority’s allocation policy.

• The current purchase price thresholds were last reviewed and updated in July 2019. Taking account of current market conditions and the recent research by the Central Bank, the thresholds have now been reviewed and are included in the table below. The price thresholds are divided into two categories: (i) Higher Threshold Areas (Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow) and (ii) Normal Threshold Areas (the rest of the country). It is important to note that these are thresholds for eligibility to the scheme but actual acquisition costs are agreed between the lender and MTR provider and cannot exceed these limits. The Department will keep these limits under review.

• New positive equity limits will be introduced. These are differentiated across three regions of the country. Currently, a positive equity limit of 10% of the Open Market Value, up to a maximum of €15,000, is allowed. This limit applies nationally and does not take into account the location of the property.  A new regional approach that takes into account the location of the property will now apply as follows:

MTR and additional scheme information

• As the households applying for MTR will have been in a position of financial hardship, possibly for a number of years, prior to applying for the scheme they may not have had the means to carry out necessary repairs to the property. MTR providers, both AHB and non-AHB, are obliged to undertake the necessary remedial or refurbishment works to bring the properties that they acquire under the scheme up to statutory private rental standards.
• The household must be eligible for social housing and the property must meet the appropriate standards for social housing. Householders are able to buy back the property after a period of 5 years or earlier with the agreement of the AHB or the private company concerned. 

Review of existing Scheme

• The Programme for Government and Housing for All committed to strengthening the MTR scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it.
• Building on the significant amendments already made to the scheme in 2017, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage conducted a review and examined the impact of these changes and what further amendments would benefit those in need of the scheme.
• This review concluded that the implementation of the 2017 Review actions has enabled the scheme to begin operating at scale and this is clearly evidenced by the increasing numbers of both MTR applications and successfully completed cases. While the scheme is performing well, the Department determined that some further enhancements are required to allow more households, who are in need of State support with their long-term housing needs, avail of this scheme.
• Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030 states: Strengthen the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme to ensure it supports those who need it (Q4 2021)

The vision for The Housing Agency's Strategy 2022-2024 is to achieve an integrated housing system, meeting the nation’s housing needs and promoting sustainable communities.

Darragh O'Brien, TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will launch The Housing Agency Strategy 2022-2024 on Thursday the 27th of January at 11:15am online via Zoom. Also contributing to the event:

• Mr. Michael Carey, Chairperson, Housing Agency
• Mr. Bob Jordan, CEO, The Housing Agency
• Ms. Áine Stapleton, Assistant Secretary, Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Register for the launch at this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4oH5G-ALT42zmIE2aEMX_A