Housing:

Home Purchase:

Publicly Funded House Loans -

Persons who cannot obtain a sustainable mortgage from the private sector or purchase or build a dwelling may apply to the Local Authority. The loan limit is 95% of the property value to a maximum of €185,000 subject to income, with the maximum term being 30 years. Contact Cork City Council at 021 4924243.

Tenant purchase scheme -

Tenants of a Local Authority house with a tenancy in excess of one year may apply to purchase to the Local Authority from whom they rent the house under the Tenant Purchase Scheme. The price of the dwelling is based on the current market value less discounts/allowance to which the tenant is entitled. The structural condition of the house will be taken into account; any improvements made to the house by the tenant will be disregarded in calculating the price. Certain forms of housing, such as dwellings for the elderly, are excluded from the provisions of this scheme.

In the 2011 Budget Statement the Minister for Finance announced a new fixed-term tenant purchase scheme. The new scheme, Tenant Purchase Scheme 2011, applies only to tenants with ten years reckonable tenancy or longer and will be open for applications only until the end of this year to 31st December, 2011.

The Tenant Purchase Scheme 2011 is in addition to and does not replace the existing 1995 Tenant Purchase Scheme which will remain in place until the 31st of December, 2012 for tenants with up to ten years tenancy.

Debt related problems -

DEBT PROBLEMS If you are having problems keeping up with payments it is important that you immediately inform your creditors (utilities, banks, etc.) and seek advice. Options include:

Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) who advise and can negotiate with creditors. Cork Office address: 12 Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork. Phone: (021) 4552080 or email cork@mabs.ie.

A Mortgage Code of Practice protects you by requiring the lender: to explore alternatives (like interest only or extending the term); not to apply penalties or force you to abandon a tracker mortgage; not to take legal action for repossession for 12 months (not counting time when you are complying with an agreement or appealing internally, or to the Financial Service Ombudsman).

Utilities can often offer Easypay options and even pre-payment meters in some circumstances.

Community Welfare Service of the HSE offer access Supported Housing Payments (see below).

Housing payments -

If neither partner is working over 29 hours per week, a supplement towards rent or mortgage interest can be made payable, if, after paying these, you are left with less than €162 (single), €286.80 (married), plus €29.80 for each child. The supplement brings your income back up to this level. You are not eligible if either you or your spouse is working full-time.

==> To be eligible for supplement on Mortgage Interest:

the loan must have been for the purchase, repair or essential improvement of your home, and

the interest is no greater than the rent ceiling for a household of similar composition. If not, supplement is restricted to a period of 12 months.

Mortgage Interest Supplement can be retained on a tapered basis over 4 years after returning to work, where gross household income (after PRSI and travel to work) does not exceed in excess of €317.43.

==> To be eligible for the rent supplement you must be -

Either already renting (or in homeless accommodation) for at least six months, or already on the Council’s housing needs list.

No supplement will be paid where the rent exceeds the ceilings for different family size (e.g. €108 per week for a single person; €150 per week for a couple or lone parent with two children; €60 per week for single person in shared accommodation. The minimum contribution in all cases is €26.

People going back to full-time work (>29 hours) can only retain eligibility for supplement if the Council has deemed them eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).

Rent Accommodation Scheme -

You can qualify for RAS if you are in need of housing and have been getting Rent Supplement (in general for a period of 18 months or more). Under RAS, the City Council enters into a long-term contract with a Private Landlord, you pay an income related Rent . If you take up work you still get a subsidized rent. If the Landlord withdraws, the council is obliged to secure another tenancy for the family. Contact Cork City Council: Rent Accomodation Scheme at (021) 492 4724 / 4689.

Greener Homes Initiatives -

Sustainable Energy Ireland (tel. 1805 734 734) provides grants to homeowners for insulation of Roof (up to €250), Cavity Wall (€400), Internal Wall (€2,500), External Wall (€4,000), for Heating Control (€500, + €200 in new boiler).

To qualify, you must apply for measures with a minimum grant of €500 for a first application. Along with your insulation works you can get €200 grant for a Building Energy Rating (B.E.R.). Grants will typically cover 20–30% of the full cost. Energy savings of up to 50% can be achieved. It also gives up to €2,500 for the installation of an approved list of renewable energy heating systems (heat pumps, solar or wood pellet systems) fitted by approved installers.