Affordable housing

Affordable home purchase 

Local authorities operate Affordable Housing Schemes that make homes available at a reduced price to first time buyers. The local authority takes a share of the ownership in the home equal to the reduction in price. The purchaser can buy the share out if they wish. Otherwise, the local authority can redeem the stake when the property is sold or transferred. 

 For more information on the affordable purchase options in your area, visit the housing section of your local authority website. 

Cost rental 

Local authorities make homes available to rent under cost rental arrangements. Cost rental can offer long-term secure tenancies at a more affordable rate than private rental. This is because homes are not rented for profit. Instead, rent is set at a rate that matches the cost of construction, management, and maintenance.

 For more information on the cost rental options available in your area, visit the hosing section of your local authority website. 

Local authority home loan 

Local authorities can offer a Local Authority Home Loan (mortgage) to eligible first-time buyers or ‘fresh start’ applicants. 

This is a government backed mortgage available for the purchase of new or second-hand properties or self-builds to be occupied by the mortgage holder. The Local Authority Home Loan can also be used for the purchase of homes through state schemes such as tenant purchase schemes or affordable housing schemes. 

The Local Authority Home Loan is open to first-time buyers and ‘fresh start’ applicants (people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone personal insolvency or bankruptcy arrangement or proceedings or other legal process).

You must prove that you have received insufficient offers of finance from two financial institutions. 

Other eligibility criteria apply – see LocalAuthorityHomeLoan.ie for more information. 

You can borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property.

Maximum market values of the property that can be purchased or self-built are:

• €360,000 – Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Dublin City, Fingal, Wicklow, Kildare
• €330,000 – Galway City, Cork City, Louth, Meath, Galway County, Cork County
• €300,000 – Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Wexford, Westmeath, Kilkenny
• €275,000 – Offaly, Laois, Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Carlow

To apply, you must complete and submit to your local authority a Local Authority Home Loan Application form and provide supporting documentation. 

For full information see LocalAuthorityHomeLoan.ie.