Tenant in Situ Schemes

A Tenant in Situ Scheme allows you to continue to rent your home, if your landlord is selling the rental property. This is because either your local authority or the Housing Agency steps in and buys the property from your landlord, and then continues to rent the property to you.

There are 2 Tenant in Situ Schemes:

• The Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme - the Housing Agency buys the rental property from your private landlord and you continue to rent the property from the Housing Agency.
• The Local Authority Tenant in Situ Scheme - your local authority buys the rental property from your landlord and you continue to rent the property from your local authority. This scheme is for people renting in the private rented market who are getting the Housing Assistance Payment or are on the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

The Government announced these schemes as part of measures to help people whose tenancies ended when the winter eviction ban ended on 31 March 2023.

The Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme allows the Housing Agency to buy the property you are renting from your private landlord if they are selling, so the Housing Agency can continue to rent the property to you.

You can access the scheme if you are a private tenant who:

• Has received a valid notice of termination
• Is at risk of homelessness because your landlord is selling the rental property

If the Housing Agency buys your rented home from your landlord, the Housing Agency will become your landlord. They will work with independent organisations, such as approved housing bodies to manage and maintain these homes.

You will pay the same rent that you paid your previous landlord. However, it is intended that the scheme will move to a cost rental model in the future, where rents would be lower than market rents.

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

You can access the Cost Rental in Situ Scheme if you are a private tenant who has received a valid notice of termination because your landlord is selling and:

• You are unable to buy the property from your landlord or do not want to
• You are at risk of homelessness
• You have a long-term right to live in Ireland
• You are not getting social housing support, such as the Housing Assistance Payment or Rental Accommodation Scheme
• You do not own other residential property
• Your net household income is below €66,000 per annum for Dublin and €59,000 for everywhere else in the country. (Net income is the amount you are left with once income tax, Universal Social Charge, Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) and PRSI are deducted from your income.)

How do I apply for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme?

Contact your local authority to make an appointment with the Housing Officer. They will assess if you qualify for this scheme or for other housing supports.

When you meet the Housing Officer you should bring:

• Your valid notice of termination
• Proof of your household's income
• Evidence that you have a long-term right to live in Ireland

If you qualify for the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ Scheme, the local authority will give your information to the Housing Agency along with details about the rental property. The Housing Agency will work with you and your landlord to try and buy the property.

If you have questions about the scheme, you can contact the Housing Agency at tenantinsitu@housingagency.ie.

The Housing Agency also has information about the scheme on their website.

The Local Authority Tenant in Situ Scheme allows your local authority to buy your rented home from your private landlord, so the local authority can continue to rent it to you.

You can access the Local Authority Tenant in Situ Scheme if you:

• Are getting the Housing Assistance Payment or are on the Rental Accommodation Scheme
• Are at risk of homelessness
• Have a private landlord who is selling the home you are renting and has sent you a valid notice of termination

If the local authority buys your rented home from your landlord, they will become your landlord. This means the local authority will be responsible for managing and maintaining your rented home.

How do I apply for the Local Authority Tenant in Situ Scheme?

Contact your local authority to make an appointment with the Housing Officer. They will assess if you qualify for this scheme, or if another housing solution might be available.

How does my local authority prioritise applications?

Your local authority prioritises applications from:

• Families with children
• Older people
• People with a disability