Voluntary housing bodies play an important role in providing rental housing throughout the country for people who could not otherwise afford to provide suitable accommodation from their own resources. The voluntary housing bodies decide on the types of housing projects/services they will provide, having regard to local needs, and are responsible for tenancy allocations in consultation with the local authorities. They are non-profit making organisations concerned with the relief of housing needs and usually take the legal form of housing associations. Such bodies must be approved by the Department of the Environment and Local Government in order to qualify for financial and other aid for the provision of housing.
Voluntary housing is supported by local authorities and the Department of the Environment and Local Government under two separate schemes, as follows -
Capital Assistance Scheme
Under this scheme, voluntary housing bodies provide accommodation, generally
one or two bedroomed units, to meet special housing needs such as those of
the elderly, disabled, homeless or smaller families. The voluntary housing
bodies decide on the type of housing projects/services they will provide having
regard to local needs and are responsible for tenancy allocations in consultation
with the local authorities. A minimum of 75% of the houses in each project
are reserved for persons whose applications for local authority housing have
been approved by the local authority, homeless persons, or local authority
tenants and tenant purchasers who return their dwellings to the local authority.
The remaining houses in a project are let to people nominated by the voluntary
housing body. Rents are determined having regard to tenants means and the
cost of managing and maintaining the dwellings.
Rental Subsidy Scheme
Under this scheme, voluntary housing bodies provide housing for renting, particularly
to meet the needs of low-income families. The houses are let by the voluntary
housing bodies to persons whose applications for local authority housing have
been approved by the local authority. 75% of tenancies in each project are
reserved for households whose total household income in the previous income
tax year did not exceed €15,237. Rents are related to your ability to
pay, taking account of household earnings and circumstances. Tenants of the
houses are centrally involved in the management of their estates.
Do I qualify?
Capital Assistance Scheme
A minimum of three quarters of the houses provided in each project under this
scheme are reserved for:
The remaining houses are let to persons nominated by the voluntary body but, in practice, they are generally let to people approved for local authority housing.
Rental Subsidy Scheme
Rental subsidy scheme houses are let to approved applicants for local authority
housing. 75% of tenancies in each project are reserved for households with
incomes of €15,237 or less in the previous tax year.
What rent will I pay?
Capital Assistance Scheme
In determining rents under this scheme, voluntary housing bodies are expected
to have regard to the tenants' means and the cost of providing and maintaining
the dwellings after allowing for the substantial funding that has been provided
by the State. Rents are therefore below market rents. Assistance towards the
rent of these dwellings may be available under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance
Scheme operated by the local Health Board.