Golden opportunity for local-authority housing tenants

FIFTY local-authority housing tenants, who have lived in their homes for more than 10 years, have been identified by Ennis Town Council as being suitable to avail of a “golden opportunity” to buy their own homes.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has introduced a new tenant purchase scheme for long-standing tenants of local authorities.
The scheme provides for a discount of up to 45% on the market price of local-authority housing.
The new scheme only applies to tenants of 10 years standing or longer and will be open for applications until the end of 2011. The new scheme does not replace the existing tenant purchase scheme adopted in 1995, which remains in place for tenants with up to 10 years’ tenancy. The option of purchase by shared ownership is not available under this scheme.
Niall O’Keeffe, administrative officer with Ennis Town Council explained this new scheme will run parallel to the 1995 scheme. The 45% discount is based on a 3% discount for each year of tenancy up to 15 years.
He told this week’s meeting of the local authority, “This is a very good option for people. Fifty possible candidates have already been identified as being eligible to benefit from the new scheme.”
Town manager Ger Dollard described the scheme as a “golden opportunity” for tenants to own their own homes.
However, Councillor Frankie Neylon commented that the scheme is a “golden opportunity for those who can afford it” as tenants would have to pay the full sum when the sale occurs.
“The idea is brilliant but the timing is slightly off unless the banks can give some level of comfort,” he stated. He urged the council to help tenants in seeking loans. This was supported by Councillor Mary Coote-Ryan. Councillor Michael Guilfoyle insisted that tenants should be supported saying, “We have tenants out there who are struggling and they shouldn’t be penalised”. Councillor Tommy Brennan insisted tenants’ previous record with the local authority be taken into account.
Councillor Brian Meaney commented that initiatives like this “instil a sense of pride and ownership in a community”. He supported the adoption of the scheme, however, he asked that tenants be contacted as soon as possible.
Councillor Johnny Flynn asked if the cost of home improvements carried out by tenants would be deducted from the market value of the house. This was confirmed by Mr O’Keeffe.
Councillor Peter Considine stated he was disappointed about some of the exclusions to the scheme, including dwellings specifically designed for occupation by Travellers where more than one such dwelling is provided on the land.
“This could be seen as discriminatory,” he commented. He was assured Ennis Town Council does not have any of these types of units and Travellers living in standard local-authority houses can apply to the scheme.