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Q: What type of property is required?
A: Generally one, two, three and four bedroom houses are required, primarily in the environs of Limerick City. A limited number of one and two bedroomed apartments are also required. Bed-sits are not required.
Q: Are leased properties required to be furnished or unfurnished?
A: Properties required for the Long Term Leasing Scheme must be furnished with basic furnishings such as white goods for kitchen, table, chairs; sitting room suite, beds, etc.
Q: How much will I get for my property if I lease it long term?
A: The rent offered will be negotiated at a discount below the current market rent paid for similar properties in the same area. The discount is applied to take account of the vacancy guarantee and the direct payment mechanism by the local authority. The rent is also guaranteed and paid monthly or quarterly in advance. The rent will be reviewed regularly as part of the Leasing Agreement.
Q: How will the market rent level be determined?
A: A range of rent rates being paid in your area from the cheapest to the most expensive will be used to calculate the current market rent and also regard will be taken of maximum rent supplement levels applicable at the time. The condition of your property will also influence the level of rent offered.
Q: When is the rent paid and how?
A: The rent is paid either monthly or quarterly in advance directly into your bank account.
Q: How will the rent review be carried out?
A: Rent review intervals will be agreed and included in the lease agreement. The rent will be reviewed in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Q: Why might the local authority refuse my property?
A: There are three main reasons why your property would not be considered.
- There may be no demand for social housing in the area where your property is located.
- The property may not be of a suitable condition to lease.
- Agreement on rent may not be reached.
Q: Can I opt out of the lease or sell during the term?
A: A break clause can be included in the lease and can be discussed with the local authority. You can sell your property during the term of the lease but the lease will transfer to the new owner.
Q: How long will it take to set up the lease?
A: The first step is to determine if there is a demand for your property and this decision can be made within a few days or so. In so far as it is within the control of the local authority, the lease will be completed within four to six weeks.
Q: How long is the lease for? Who decides?
A: A lease can be for a period of between 5 and 20 years. This will be agreed as part of the negotiations.
Q: Who will be responsible for the repairs to my property?
A: The landlord or local authority may be responsible for the general maintenance of your property, depending on the particular circumstances and the Leasing Agreement agreed between the parties. However any structural repairs e.g. roof repairs or major settlement cracks would be your responsibility and would typically be covered by your buildings insurance policy.
Q: Does the local authority require vacant possession?
A: Yes.
Q: In the case of an apartment, who pays the Management Service Charge?
A: The property owner pays the Management Service Charge.
Q: Who pays the refuse charges?
A: Where there is a management company service charge, refuse charges are usually included in this. Where there is no management service charge the person living in the house will be liable for the refuse charges.
Q: Do I have to register the tenancy with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (P.R.T.B.)?
A: Landlords are required to register details of all their tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board within one month of the commencement of those tenancies. Once a tenancy is registered it remains a registered tenancy for as long as the tenancy remains in existence. Once the tenancy is terminated, any new tenancy created in respect of the dwelling must be registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Under the provisions of Part 4 of the Act, if the tenancy has not previously been terminated it will deemed to be terminated when it has lasted 4 years and a new tenancy will then be deemed to commence. This new tenancy must be registered with the PRTB and the appropriate registration fee paid.
The registration application form PRTB1 can be downloaded from www.prtb.ie . The PRTB may return an incorrectly completed or incomplete PRTB1 to a landlord and refuse to register a tenancy until the form has been correctly completed.
Landlords are urged to read the ‘Frequently Asked questions' section on the PRTB's website, in particular the material on the tenant's Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). The Act states that the PPSN of the tenant(s) must be provided unless it cannot be ascertained by reasonable enquiry.
Q: Do I need a Tax Clearance Certificate?
A: Yes, an up to date Tax Clearance Certificate will be required annually.
Q: Who insures the property?
A: In the case of apartments the insurance will be covered as part of the management service charge. In the case of houses, you will be required to maintain buildings insurance, as you would be liable for any structural repairs e.g. roof.
Q: Do I need a BER (building energy rating) certificate for the house/apartment?
A: Yes. All private rented accommodation subject to a new letting from the 1st January, 2009 is required to have a Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate in accordance with the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. A BER is a scale of comparison for the energy performance of a building ranging from A1 to G. It is similar to the A to G rating for a household electrical appliance like a fridge or washing machine. (A rated houses are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient.)
The assessment for a Building Energy Rating must be carried out by specially trained BER assessors, registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). Further information and a list of BER assessors are available on the SEI website www.sei.ie .
Q: Is a property subject to a Leasing Agreement exempt from the Non Principal Primary Residence (NPPR) charge, or the Household Charge introduced in 2012?
A: No- from the 1st January, 2012 Leasing contracted properties are liable for both of these charges.
Q: What documentation is required as part of the Leasing agreement?
A: In addition to the Leasing Contract, the following documentation is required from the landlord (and additional documentation may also be required for a particular leasing agreement):
- Evidence of Legal Title/Ownership.
- Written consent for Lease Agreement from Lending Agency.
- Compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations.
- Compliance with Part V Obligations.
- Confirmation of payment of NPPR and Household Charge.
- Current Tax Clearance Certificate.
- Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate.
- Confirmation that the tenancy is, or will be, registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
- Copy of insurance cover for property.
- List of contents belonging to the landlord.
- A current Electro-Technical Council of Ireland (ETCI) Inspection Report prepared by a Registered Electrical Contractor for the electrical installation of the house.
- A current Declaration of Conformance for an IS 813 annex E inspection prepared by a Registered Gas Installer for the gas installation in the house.(Annex E of the National Standard for Domestic Gas Installation 813(IS813), This standard is issued by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)).
Q: Who do I contact to discuss the Leasing Scheme further?
A: You can e-mail the Housing Dept on housing@limerickcoco.ie with your query or alternatively ring the Housing Dept on 061-496359. Leasing is based in the Housing Department, Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
Information on the Leasing Scheme is also available from the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government on www.environ.ie
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