Laois Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley said the proposed changes to the Tenant in Situ Scheme “will cause havoc.”
The scheme allows Local Authorities to purchase a home in the private rental sector if the landlord puts said property up for sale.
County Councils may buy the property to prevent the tenant from becoming homeless.
The proposed changes to the scheme, which have been defended by Minister for Housing James Browne TD, have seen concerns raised not only be Deputy Stanley, but by a number of opposition parties as well as a number of Local Authorities.
The fear is that the proposed changes and funding allocations “will result in fewer people being able to access this vital homeless support.”
The main changes to the scheme include:
- A reduction in capital allocation for 2025 from the final spend on the scheme in 2024;
- Landlords selling a home to a Local Authority must be in receipt of a social housing support payment for a period of two years;
- Refurbishment costs are to be excluded;
- A concerted focus on helping children, older people and those with disabilities.
Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Stanley express his concerns directly to Minister Browne and urged the changes to be scrapped.
Deputy Stanley said the scheme was “broadly welcomed” when it was first introduced, and that it “seemed to be working.”
But he said the proposed changes to the scheme “could render it redundant,” and said the changes will “increase the risk of homelessness.”
Highlighting the requirement for properties to be registered for social housing support payments, Deputy Stanley said: “the reality is many rental properties are not registered and the tenant has no power to change this fact.”
Deputy Stanley also said the exclusion of reasonable refurbishment costs “does not bear any resemblance to reality.”
He said homes in the private rental sector generally “do not receive regular maintenance,” adding, “few homes will come in without needing €10,000, €20,000 or €30,000 to be spent on them.”
Deputy Stanley pointed out the associated refurbishment costs for people with a disabilities, where doors need to be widened, baths replaced with showers, and ramps may need to be installed.
The Laois TD said whoever was responsible for drafting the changes “have no idea what is going on out there in the real world.”
The scheme’s new focus on helping children, older people and those with disabilities has also raised concerns that it could inadvertently de-prioritise single people and couples without children.
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