Sinn Féin accuses Government of deliberately cutting funding for tenant-in-situ scheme

The scheme is designed to allow local authorities to purchase homes when a landlord is selling up, with the tenants remaining in the house as a social housing tenant.

Sinn Féin has accused the Government of deliberately reducing funding allocated for the tenant-in-situ scheme.

The party has tabled a Dáil motion, due to be debated on Wednesday, accusing the Government of attempting to purposefully restrict the scheme.

It calls on housing minister James Browne to row back on changes to the scheme and to increase funding for it.

The scheme is designed to allow local authorities to purchase homes when a landlord is selling up, with the tenants remaining in the house as a social housing tenant.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed the scheme would be continued into 2025, but with changes that restrict the conditions in which councils can acquire properties.

In particular, tenants are required to be in receipt of social housing supports — like Hap or Ras — for two years before they can be considered for the scheme.

Local authorities are also being asked to prioritise aquisitions for families with children, older people, and those with disabilities.

The Sinn Féin motion, tabled by housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, says there is a “concerted effort by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to reduce the funding for, and restrict the operation of, the scheme”.

It adds the result of these restrictions is putting more people at risk of homelessness, while disincentivising landlords from engaging with the scheme.

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While a briefing note was provided to local councils earlier this month, formal targets for the scheme are yet to be set by the Department of Housing.

The note said restrictions would ensure priority categories of need could “benefit in an equitable manner”.

Local authority chief executives will also be required to sign off on all acquisitions, with the note also confirming a “full review” of criteria for the tenant-in-situ scheme.

The Government had been coming under pressure over funding of the scheme, with some local authorities having paused acquisitions outright.

This included 107 property acquisitions paused by Limerick City and County Council.