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Voluntary Housing Scheme
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 not-for-profit 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 which provides accommodation, generally one or two bedroomed units, to meet special housing needs such as those of the elderly, disabled, homeless or smaller families, and
Rental Subsidy Scheme which provides housing for renting, particularly to meet the needs of low income families
Do I qualify?
Capital Assistance Scheme
A minimum of three quarters of the houses provided in each project under this scheme are reserved for
- people whose applications for Sligo Borough Council housing have been approved by the Sligo Borough Council,
- homeless persons, or
- tenants or tenant purchasers of Sligo Borough Council houses who return their dwellings to the Sligo Borough Council.
The remaining houses are let to persons nominated by the voluntary body but, in practice, they are generally let to people approved for Sligo Borough Council housing.
Rental Subsidy Scheme
Rental subsidy scheme houses are let to approved applicants for Sligo Borough Council housing. 75% of tenancies in each project are reserved for households with incomes of £12,000 (€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.
Rental Subsidy Scheme
Your rent under this scheme is directly related to your ability to pay taking into account household earnings and circumstances. The rent is calculated at a weekly minimum of £5 (€6.35) plus I8p for each £1 (€1.27) of weekly household income over £80 (€102) per week in the previous income tax year. There is an allowance of £1 (€1.27) per week for each dependant child residing in the house but the minimum rent may not be less than £5 (€6.35) per week. The following table indicates rents payable in different circumstances:
| Household Income and number of child dependants
|
Weekly rent
|
| £90 (€114), I child
|
£5.80 (€7.36) [i.e. £5 plus (10 x £0.18) less £1] |
| £120 (€152), 2 children |
£10.20 (€12.95) |
| £150 (€190), 2 children |
£15.60 (€19.81) |
| £200 (€254), 3 children |
£23.60 (€29.97)
|
Additional rent is payable if a person who has an income, and is not the tenant the tenant's spouse or joint tenant resides in the house. The extra rent, which is capped at £20 (€25.39) per week, is calculated at the rate or 18p for each £1 (€1.27) of his/her income in excess or £80 (€102) per week. Rents may be reduced if you produce satisfactory evidence of a fall in income and of the likelihood of the fall lasting for at least four weeks.
Who is responsible for the upkeep of voluntary housing schemes?
All voluntary housing schemes are managed and maintained by the organisation providing the housing. The Rental Subsidy Scheme aims to encourage tenant participation through management boards, which involve the tenants in the management of the houses.
Can I buy my house?
No. The voluntary housing schemes do not allow the purchase by individual tenants of their houses.
Is there any assistance available to me to buy a house should I decide to move from a house provided by a voluntary housing body?
Yes. Tenants for more than one year of houses provided under the Rental Subsidy Scheme who return their houses to the voluntary housing body qualify for the same range of benefits available to Sligo Borough Council tenants returning their houses. These include:
- the Mortgage Allowance Scheme,
- exemption from income limits for the shared ownership
- exemption from income limits for the affordable housing scheme
- exemption from income limits for Sligo Borough Council house purchase loans,
- the Improvement Works in lieu of Sligo Borough Council Housing Scheme in respect of the house to which the tenant moves, and
- low cost housing sites from the Sligo Borough Council.
If you are a first time purchaser buying a new house, the £3,000 (€3,809) new house grant will be available.
Sligo Borough Council will advise you in relation to all the above schemes.
Are there any voluntary housing projects in my area?
The County Councils, County Borough Corporations, Drogheda, Sligo and Wexford Corporations and Athlone and Dundalk Urban District Councils will be happy to advise you if there are any projects planned or underway in your area. They will put you in contact with the voluntary housing body concerned. The Irish Council for social housing, 50 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2, (telephone 01 - 6610320, provides information and advice on the formation and management of voluntary housing bodies.
Further Information
If you feel that housing provided by voluntary bodies is an option that may be suited to your circumstances, contact Sligo Borough Council for further information.
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