Improvements works in lieu of Local Authority Housing (must apply for social housing support)

This scheme enables local authorities to improve or extend privately owned houses as an alternative to providing local authority housing. Carrying out the work must satisfy your housing need and result in your removal from the housing waiting list.

It is aimed at:

• The scheme is intended to enable housing authorities to repair, improve or extend privately owned houses occupied or intended to be occupied by an approved housing applicant as an alternative to the provision of Local Authority Housing.  
• Local authority tenants, people on the housing list, tenant purchasers or housing association tenants who want to move into a home owned by a relative but cannot because the home is sub-standard or too small.
• The cost limit of works, which may be carried out to any house, without the prior approval of the Department, under the schemes of improvement works in lieu and extensions to local authority houses is being increased to €75,000

• The scheme does not apply to improvements to private rented houses.

If you qualify, the local authority will carry out works to adapt the house or to provide extra bedrooms. The local authority will pay the full cost of the works carried out and you will then pay a charge to the local authority for a maximum of 15 years. If during the 15-year period, you have paid an amount equal to the total cost of the works, the charge will stop.

The charge will be worked out in a similar way to the differential rent scheme for local authority rents, so it is based on your ability to pay. The local authority will take into account the urgency of your housing needs and the cost-effectiveness of the proposal when deciding whether to improve your house.

You can sell the house at any time. However, if you do so during the 15 year period of charges or before your total payments equal the cost of the works, you will have to make a repayment to the authority.