Report Paul Murphy
A Sinn Fein councillor has called on Meath County Council to write to the Minister for Housing requesting an increase in the income threshold for the Mortgage to Rent Scheme in order to help homeowners at risk of losing their homes. Fionnan Blake tabled a motion to that effect at the September meeting of the council.
He said that up to 30 th June this year there were 7,500 cases submitted to the Department “yet only 2,700 cases have been completed”. He felt that because of the rise in house prices more and more people were finding themselves in negative equity. The average wage was around €44,000 and he felt the threshold under the MRS should be examined.
Officials replied to Cllr Blake that the MRS was a Government initiative to help homeowners at risk of losing their homes through mortgage arrears. The county council administered the scheme as per government guidelines. As well as meeting the qualifying criteria for the scheme, applicants must also be eligible for social housing support in the local authority in whose area the house is located.
The social housing eligibility bands were introduced in 2021 and in recognition of the increased cost of accommodation these bands have been increased by €5,000 in all housing authorities from 1 st January 2023. The officials said they understood the income eligibility limits were due for revision. The council is now to write to the Minister seeking an increase in the limits.
