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Guide to the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme

The Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme is a government initiative designed to help private tenants who are at risk of losing their homes due to their landlords selling the property. This scheme allows tenants to stay in their current homes by enabling the Housing Agency to purchase these properties and continue renting them to the existing tenants.

What is the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme?

The Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme allows the Housing Agency to buy rental properties from private landlords who are planning to sell. This enables tenants at risk of eviction to remain in their homes. If the Housing Agency buys your home, they will become your new landlord and will manage and maintain the property, often in partnership with approved housing bodies.

Under this scheme, you will continue to pay the same rent that you paid to your previous landlord. However, the scheme aims to transition to a cost rental model in the future, where rents will be set below the market rate to offer more affordable housing options.

The scheme was introduced by the government on 1 April 2023, as a measure to protect tenants whose tenancies were at risk of ending following the expiration of the winter eviction ban.

Separate Scheme for Tenants Receiving Housing Assistance

If you are receiving the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or are on the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), there is a separate Tenant in Situ Scheme. In this case, your local authority can purchase the property from your landlord, and you can continue to rent it from the local authority. To access this scheme, contact your local authority directly.

Do I Qualify for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme?

To qualify for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You are a private tenant who has received a valid notice of termination because your landlord is selling the property.
  • You are unable or do not wish to buy the property from your landlord.
  • You are at risk of becoming homeless.
  • You have a long-term right to live in Ireland.
  • You are not currently receiving social housing support, such as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
  • You do not own any other residential property.
  • Your net household income is below €66,000 per year for Dublin or below €59,000 per year for the rest of the country. (These income limits were increased from €53,000 nationwide on 1 August 2023.)

How Do I Apply for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme?

To apply for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme, follow these steps:

  1. Contact Your Local Authority: Reach out to your local authority to schedule an appointment with a Housing Officer. They will assess your eligibility for this scheme or other housing supports.
  2. Prepare the Necessary Documents: When you meet the Housing Officer, bring the following:
    • A valid notice of termination from your landlord.
    • Proof of your household’s income.
    • Evidence of your long-term right to live in Ireland.
  3. Assessment and Application: If you qualify, the local authority will forward your information to the Housing Agency, along with details about the rental property. The Housing Agency will then collaborate with you and your landlord to attempt to purchase the property.

If you have any questions or need more information about the scheme, you can contact the Housing Agency directly via email at tenantinsitu@housingagency.ie. Additional information is also available on the Housing Agency’s website.

Useful Contacts

Housing Agency
53 Mount Street Upper
Dublin 2
D02 KT73
Ireland