If you are a local authority tenant and you want to buy a private house and return your present house to the local authority you may be eligible for the Mortgage Allowance Scheme.

If you are a tenant for more than one year of a home provided by a housing association, under the Rental Subsidy Scheme, and you want to buy a private house and return your present house to the housing association you may be eligible for the Mortgage Allowance Scheme.

The Scheme is designed to ease the transition from social housing to paying a mortgage.

An allowance of up to €11,450 is payable over a five-year period to assist in either purchasing or building a private house with a mortgage. Your mortgage may be from a commercial lending agency or from a local authority.

Qualifying Criteria

The following criteria applies:

• You must have a mortgage of at least €38,092.14.
• If you have bought a house under the Shared ownership scheme, you are not eligible for the Mortgage Allowance Scheme.
• The house must be suitable to your needs, meet certain minimum standards and be acceptable to the local authority.

Other Information

The applicant must continue to occupy the private dwelling as his/her normal place of residence throughout the five-year period to which the allowance relates.

How to Apply

Please contact your local housing office for the area in which the private dwelling is being purchased or built and express an interest in the scheme. An application form will then be sent to you.

Contact Details

Related Files and Information

• Mortgage Allowance Scheme Website