Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Council house purchase

Options
  • 21-05-2016 12:32pm
    #1
    jamjar1983
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭


    I'm looking for some advice. My sister has been living in a council house in rural Donegal for a several years. She has now been given the option to buy the house. She is getting married soon and will move down the country. Is it possible for me to buy the house she's currently living in by giving her the money for it?


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    MarkAnthony
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭MarkAnthony


    No, the scheme is for people who live in the house. If they resell they have top pay an additional amount.


  • Options
    #3
    jamjar1983
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭jamjar1983


    MarkAnthony wrote: »
    No, the scheme is for people who live in the house. If they resell they have top pay an additional amount.

    What if they don't "resell" but give it to a sibling?


  • Options
    #4
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users Posts: 81,263 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    jamjar1983 wrote: »
    What if they don't "resell" but give it to a sibling?

    Same thing, the condition is they live in it.


  • Options
    #5
    MarkAnthony
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭MarkAnthony


    jamjar1983 wrote: »
    What if they don't "resell" but give it to a sibling?

    :rolleyes:

    It's not a scheme for making a profit or helping out relations.

    If you're in anyway serious about this get the paperwork run by a solicitor.


  • Options
    #6
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users Posts: 14,329 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    jamjar1983 wrote:
    I'm looking for some advice. My sister has been living in a council house in rural Donegal for a several years. She has now been given the option to buy the house. She is getting married soon and will move down the country. Is it possible for me to buy the house she's currently living in by giving her the money for it?


    What you are proposing is simply wrong. Surely you must be aware of the housing crisis in the country and while government policy is largely to blame, this attitude simply adds to it.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    twowheelsonly
    Registered Users Posts: 2,268 ✭✭✭twowheelsonly


    Short answer is no... (and I'd be also of the school of thought that you're worse to be thinking of it..)

    Long answer is:
    Rules

    If you are a local authority tenant living in a local authority house included in the scheme you can apply to buy the house. You must however be in receipt of some form of social housing support for at least a year, and must have a minimum gross annual income of €15,000, as determined by the local authority in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

    You will pay the market value of the house – less a discount.

    Depending on income, the discounts will vary between 40% and 60%.

    Your local authority will also place a charge on your house called an ‘incremental purchase charge’. This charge will be equal to the discount you get on the price of the house.

    The charge will remain in place for 20, 25 or 30 years (depending on the discount given).

    Each year, the local authority will reduce the charge by 2%. At the end of the 20, 25 or 30 years, the charge will be zero as long as you obey the terms and conditions of the scheme.

    You must live in the house as your normal place of residence and get agreement from your local authority if you want to sell, let or sub-let the house.

    You will be able to resell your house at any time if your local authority agrees. However, if you sell before the end of the 20, 25 or 30 years, you will have to pay back the value of the outstanding charge on your house to your local authority.

    Like all homeowners, you will be responsible for maintaining and carrying out repairs on your house from the date you buy it. You will also have to get and keep adequate property insurance on your house – and pay for this yourself.

    The local authority can refuse to sell the house in particular circumstances such as to tenants or household members involved in anti-social behaviour or with rent arrears.

    The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 (link is external), sets out the conditions for the sale of local authority houses.

    - See more at: http://www.environ.ie/housing/home-ownership/tenant-purchase-scheme/tenant-purchase#sthash.98W9Pzz4.dpuf


Advertisement