53 Kildare County Council tenants have a notice to quit

Kildare County Council cannot currently buy tenant in situ properties, pending a decision at government level.

There are homes rented privately and the tenant is at risk of eviction because the landlord is selling.

KCC cathaoirleach Kevin Duffy asked if the scheme is still paused and if the council could write to the government  seeking to restart buying these homes.

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According to KCC a decision on a tenant in situ programme for 2025 is expected to be made by the government shortly.

But until then, the council cannot purchase any tenant in situ properties.

Last year KCC  purchased 55 properties under this scheme “and view it as an essential homeless prevention measure.”

At the moment 53 KCC tenants have a notice to quit due to sale by the landlord. 

On March 4 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne announced an additional €265m capital funding in 2025. This will allow for a significant programme of acquisitions in 2025 for priority categories of need such as: tenant in situ acquisitions; older persons and persons with a disability; exits from homeless services and buy and renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy.

According to a statement from his department the introduction of mandatory eligibility criteria for tenant in situ acquisitions for 2025 will ensure that the priority categories of need outlined above can benefit fairly from the second hand acquisitions programme and that the funding available will be targeted at those most in need.  

Minister Browne said: “Homelessness is a top priority for me. It is important that we help those in emergency accommodation to exit to a permanent setting as soon as possible. It is even more preferable to help people to avoid entering homelessness in the first instance where we can. Housing acquisitions have proven to be effective in this regard where no other options exist for social housing supported tenants who are at risk of losing their home.” 

He added that  priority needs such as families and children, older people, persons with a disability and where the opportunities exist turning vacant properties into viable homes will be targeted.

The statement added that local authorities, like KCC,  will receive a capital funding allocation for second hand acquisitions and this will be communicated directly to KCC.

Social housing acquisitions refer to second hand properties acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies for use as social housing. 

Tenant in situ acquisitions were introduced by the government in 2023 and was extended into 2024.  It was originally intended as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes.