Tipperary County Council is to make 7 specific requests of the Government in a response to the Housing Crisis. The actions were agreed following a special discussion about Housing at the plenary meeting of all 40 Tipperary councillors.
The councillors are seeking an increase in the social housing income limit – at present this is €25,000 for a single person and €30,000 for a couple in Tipperary.
A reintroduction of long term leasing as an option for smaller landlords is also sought.
There is one post as a Vacant Housing officer for the entire county; the request is that a second post be created to help identify empty properties that could be brought back into stock.
The councillors are also seeking that there be a tax based incentive provided in the Repair and Lease Scheme to encourage over the shop living for related property owners.
In addition the Department of Housing is asked to create a special time limited package of measures to encourage building of new homes where planning permission is already in place by providing VAT reductions and/or better terms on mortgages from banks as well as making access to loans under the Housing For All Loan scheme easier.
Finally the councillors are seeking a change to the recently announced First Home Scheme – for county Tipperary this has a cap of €250,000 – the proposal is that this be increased to €290,000.
The scheme gives first home buyers financial assistance of up to €30,000 and the scheme can be used in conjunction with the already operating Help to Buy Scheme with some limitations.
