Changes to Tenant Purchase Scheme welcomed

Aontú Cllr Sarah O Reilly says it is "positive news".

Tenants in local authority properties in Cavan may be able to realise their dreams of home ownership due to upcoming changes of eligibility criteria.

Adjustments to the eligibility criteria for the Incremental Tenant Purchase Scheme, which enables tenants to purchase the local authority homes they live in will take effect from January 29.

Aontú Cllr Sarah O Reilly says it is "positive news".

"The vast majority of people aspire to owning their homes and I fully believe they should be encouraged and supported to do so if that is their choice. Broadening the criteria offers people a chance to finally secure the properties for themselves."

She added: "The changes to the qualifying criteria of the scheme will now mean that those on an annual income of 11,000 will now be able to apply to buy. This replaces the current income limit of €12,500. It will also allow older tenants to buy their homes if they wish. In addition to this the previous requirement in the case of joint applications that both tenants had to be in receipt of social housing benefit for ten years has also been changed and now only one must be receiving this benefit”.