Effort to bypass help to buy scheme being examined, says housing regulator

Home buyer was asked to pay €25,000 for flooring to circumvent threshold

A spokesperson for the PSRA said they have the power to issue minor and major sanctions, including suspensions and fines. File picture: iStock

Ireland’s property regulator said it is examining a report that a potential home buyer was asked to pay €25,000 for flooring in order to bypass the cap on the help to buy scheme.

The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), which licences and regulates auctioneers and estate agents, said it was not aware of such practices taking place, but encouraged any first-time buyers who were faced with such an incident to lodge a formal complaint.