COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Thursday, June 15, 2023

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor T. Costello

To assist people with the process of right sizing housing SDCC will arrange information seminars to outline, the requirements, the rules, the facts about living in age friendly housing

REPORT:

The Council’s Rightsizing Policy, adopted by the Elected Members in December 2020, provides for allocation of age friendly homes to people aged 55 or older through the housing list (including homeless, medical priority or HAP transfers), transfers (existing Council tenants rightsizing) or the community list (financial contribution for private homeowners rightsizing).  It is intended that approcimately 50% of homes in new age friendly housing developments will be used for rightsizing, with priority for tenants transferring from local areas, and one in five rightsizing opportunities will be available to private homeowners through the Community List.

For inclusion on the community list, the Council and the homeowner must agree that the Council will either purchase their existing home at a discount of 30%-40% or accept a financial contribution from the net proceeds of sale of 20%-50%, depending on the homeowner’s age (see table below): 

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

A new rightsizing guide has been finalised by the Council following consultation with the Older People's Council and the County Age Friendly Alliance and approved by the Housing and Social, Community Equality and Strategic Policy Commitees in May 2023. This will be launched in the coming weeks together with a communications campaign promoting the potential and benefits of rightsizing along with a dedicated rightsizing section on our website which will allow older people thinking about rightsizing to explore their options and make an informed choice about their housing options.  Our Age Friendly Healthy Homes Co-ordinator also engages on a case-by-case basis with older person households to discuss rightsizing and other housing and healthcare supports.