Improvement Works In Lieu of Sligo Borough Council Housing
Do I qualify?
If you are
- a person whose application for Sligo Borough Council housing has been approved by the Sligo Borough Council, or
- a Sligo Borough Council tenant or tenant purchaser who wishes to move to a privately owned house and to return your present house to the Sligo Borough Council, or
- a tenant for more than one year of a house provided by a voluntary housing body under the Rental Subsidy Scheme who wishes to move to a privately owned house and to return your present house to the body,
you may apply to Sligo Borough Council under this scheme.
What houses qualify?
The Sligo Borough Council may carry out improvement works under this scheme to privately owned houses, which are
- owned by the applicant, where the house is defective or overcrowded for the needs of the applicant, or
- owned by a relative of the applicant, where the house is defective or would be overcrowded when the applicant moves into the house.
Private rented housing is not eligible under this scheme.
What works qualify?
The Sligo Borough Council may carry out any works to eliminate defects in the house or to provide additional accommodation where this is necessary to eliminate overcrowding or to accommodate a person not residing in the house who is approved for Sligo Borough Council housing.
How does the Sligo Borough Council choose what houses to improve?
The Sligo Borough Council will take into account the urgency of individual housing needs when choosing houses to improve or extend under the scheme. It will also have regard to the cost effectiveness of the proposal.
Why should I consider the scheme?
The scheme has the advantages that persons in housing need can remain in their existing homes and neighbourhoods and, at the same time, enjoy decent housing conditions sooner than they otherwise might.
What payments are involved?
The Sligo Borough Council will pay the full cost of the works carried out to the house. You will pay a reasonable weekly or monthly charge in respect of the Sligo Borough Council's costs for a maximum of 15 years. If, within the 15-year period, the total of your payments equals the cost to the Sligo Borough Council, the weekly or monthly charge will then cease.
The charge will be calculated, in much the same way as differential rents for Sligo Borough Council tenants, on the basis of your income and the cost of the works carried out in accordance with the following formula:
weekly differential rent X (cost of works / £50,000 (€63,487))
As an example, if the cost of works to the house was £20,000 (€25,395), you would pay 40% of the amount you would pay under the authority's differential rents scheme. The charge will vary during the 15-year period to take account of changes in your circumstances and changes in the authority's rent scheme. The payments are therefore related to your ability to pay.
Can I sell the house?
You can sell the house at any time. However, if the house is sold before the total of your repayments equals the cost of the works or within 15 years of the works being carried out, whichever is the sooner, you must make a repayment to the authority. The amount of that repayment will be 1/15th of the cost of the work for each year between the date of the sale and the expiry of 15 years from completion of the work.
Further information
The scheme of improvement works in lieu of Sligo Borough Council housing is available from County Councils, County Borough Corporations, Borough Corporations and Urban District Councils. If you feel that the scheme is an option that may be suited to your circumstances, contact Sligo Borough Council for further information.
