Taoiseach backs calls to raise Tipperary social housing income limits

Tipperary social housing income limits are set at €30,000 for a single person and are described as outdated. Low and middle-income working families are said to be excluded from council housing and housing assistance payment, and also unable to qualify for mortgages. As a result, families are characterized as being pushed into private renting at high rents. Concerns are raised that schemes such as Help to Buy and affordable housing do not make home ownership feasible for people who cannot save deposits. The Taoiseach expressed empathy and said the Housing Minister is reviewing the limits, noting they were last revised about three years ago and that the social housing qualification threshold increased by about €5,000, with a need for further upward review.

"The current income limits for council housing are completely outdated. They are too low and must be increased urgently. These low income limits have the effect of locking large numbers of low- and middle-income families out of public housing and indeed private home ownership as well. The families do not qualify for council housing or the housing assistance payment, nor will they qualify for a mortgage. They are condemned to private renting at enormous rents for ever more."

"Despite schemes like Help to Buy and affordable housing, the south Tipperary TD said that people on lower incomes can't afford to buy a home even with schemes like that. Large numbers of these families simply cannot avail of these schemes. They live from week to week and cannot save for a deposit. These limits need to be urgently increased."

"The Taoiseach said that the income limits "were last revised about three years ago, maybe a bit longer, and I think the threshold for qualification for social housing went up about €5,000". "I have spoken to the Minister about this. There are quite a number of working people who are on incomes that would not enable them to get mortgages and so on and who are above the threshold for social housing. I believe it needs to be reviewed upwards.""

Read at Irish Independent