Tenant-in-Situ Scheme 'needs more funding' in Mayo

A local councillor is calling on Mayo County Council to buy more houses under the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme in order to help tenants in distress. The scheme allows a local authority or housing agency to buy a rental property that is being sold by a landlord and then offer to continue renting it to the existing tenant.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien raised the matter at last week's council meeting, noting that there was "very little money made available by the Government under the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme".

"I believe it amounts to €2.8m coming in directly to Mayo for 2025, so I wonder is there room for the local authority to make provision to buy more houses under it.” 

Cllr Michael Burke said he understood Cllr O’Brien was suggesting the council get involved in purchasing houses for tenants but pointed out that financial institutions are also helping people avail of the scheme, adding: “I have seen about six cases in Ballinrobe in relation to tenants and whether it is the banks or whatever, there were deals and mortgages arranged for the people in the houses. In some cases, the credit union has come in and that is a great help to many. These are people that have a track record of paying their rent for maybe 12 or 14 years, so I think that scheme is working well. I know Cllr O’Brien is talking from the angle of the council buying the houses for tenants.” 

Cllr Damien Ryan said the council definitely needs to make a bigger case to government for more funding for the scheme, adding: “We need more flexibility where people find themselves in the unfortunate situation where vulture funds have come in and taken over the debt of some apartments.” 

Director of Services Catherine McConnell advised that “every local authority has allocations to help those in long-term homelessness exit it”, adding that the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme was just one such avenue.

 “We are looking at this scheme in relation to long-term homelessness. Anyone in private rented accommodation and in danger of becoming homeless, this scheme is a vehicle of last resort to provide a home for them, and we will be looking at using it more in the coming year.” 

Further information on the scheme is available on www.mayo.ie.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.