COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the proposal for age friendly housing for older persons that own their own private home to make it possible for them to move to Council owned or supported designated age friendly accommodation apply for accommodation and the matter be discussed.

REPORT:

The Council’s recently adopted County Age Friendly Strategy 2020-2024 recognises the need to provide appropriate housing options to meets the needs of our ageing population. 

As part of the implementation of the strategy, the Council is committed to:

• Delivering a range of older persons housing developments across the County utilising the expertise of our Age Friendly Housing Technical Specialist along with best practice in design, location and supports to best meet the needs of older person rightsizing owners and tenants, and housing applicants.

Recognising the potential need for age friendly housing amongst older persons that own private homes within a community, applications from older persons in their privately owned accommodation who wish to move to Council owned or supported designated age friendly accommodation will be considered for inclusion on a Community List.  Up to 10% of homes in new age friendly housing developments will, at first allocation, be made available to applicants from the Community List.  Applications to be included on the Community List will be approved subject to the following:-

 

• The applicant(s) must be resident in South Dublin County, or demonstrate a local connection, and be eligible for older person’s accommodation
• The applicant agrees to the Council purchasing their property directly or, at the sole discretion of the Council, provides a financial contribution in lieu, from the net proceeds of the private sale of the property.
• The relevant property for sale, if being acquired by the Council, must be: located in South Dublin County, suitable to meet existing housing need and will be subject to acquisition limits as determined by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
• At certain times within the Council’s sole discretion, the Council may refuse to accept further Community List applications including where current demand exceeds by 100% or more the potential supply scheduled to become available within the next 12 months.
• Applicants will be included on the Community List upon the date of completion of a formal written agreement for:
  • the Council to purchase their property

or

• the applicant to provide a financial contribution to the Council from the net proceeds of the private sale of their property.

• Applicant(s) shall only be eligible for the allocation of one age friendly home and may be required to complete a pre-tenancy course before any allocation.
• Refusal of two offers of accommodation will result in cancellation of an application.
• Applicants will be required to become tenants of South Dublin County Council (or an Approved Housing Body) upon allocation of an age friendly home and will be required to sign a tenancy agreement and pay differential rent accordingly.

Community List: Discount on Purchase / Financial Contribution

The relevant discount on purchase to the Council or financial contribution to the Council for inclusion on the Community List under the Age Friendly strategy is as follows:

Age Category	Council Discount on Purchase	Financial Contribution to the Council on Sale
55-64 years	40% discount on the market value	1/2 of net proceeds of sale
65-69 years		1/3 of net proceeds of sale
70-79 years	30% discount on the market value	1/4 of net proceeds of sale
80 year and over		1/5 of net proceeds of sale

A joint application, where the applicants’ ages fall into two different categories, will have the % discount or financial contribution calculated pro-rata accordingly.

Net proceeds shall exclude the discharge of any bona fide mortgage or charge on the property, legal fees incurred and/or other expenses solely related to the sale of the property.

The appropriate financial contribution must be paid, or a legally binding agreement must be in place to pay the contribution, in advance of an applicant moving into their new home.