Public Housing

Local authorities (or housing authorities) are the main providers of social housing for people who cannot afford to buy their own homes. Local authority housing is allocated according to eligibility and need. Rents are based on the household’s ability to pay.

Several sets of Social Housing Assessment Regulations prescribe how housing authorities should handle social housing applications.

Important elements of these Regulations include that:

• You can only apply to one housing authority
• In general, you must already be living in the area covered by that housing authority or have a local connection with the area – though a housing authority may agree to waive this requirement
• You will only be considered for social housing if your household income is less than the threshold that applies in the housing authority’s area
• If your current mortgage is unsustainable, this will be taken into consideration in assessing your household’s need for social housing

In order to qualify, you must be eligible for social housing and you must be in need of social housing.

• The housing authority will assess your eligibility first
• It will only assess whether you need social housing after it has deemed you to be eligible

Foreign nationals must have a legal right to remain in the State on a long-term basis.

Eligibility

• To be regarded as eligible for social housing you must satisfy the income criteria.
• You must also show that you do not have suitable alternative accommodation.