If you are looking for an Application form or Council Document you will find them in the All Publications section of this website or alternatively if you are looking for a Housing document or Applications form you can find in Housing Documents & Forms section of this website
Local Authority Home Loan
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for first time buyers or other eligible applicants through Local Authorities. The scheme is for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. It also includes the purchase of homes through State schemes such as the Tenant Purchase Scheme and Affordable Housing Schemes, with the exception of the First Home Scheme. The “Fresh Start” principle means that people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone personal insolvency or bankruptcy arrangement or proceedings or other legal process, will be eligible to apply.
The loan is a normal Capital and Interest-bearing mortgage which is repaid by direct debit on a monthly basis. You can borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property with the property value cap being €250,000 in Carlow (max borrowing €225,000). Single applicants can earn up to €50,000 in the scheme or €75,000 for joint applicants. A Local Authority Home Loan offers two fixed interest rate products:
2.845% fixed for up to 25 years (APR 2.88%)*
2.945% fixed for up to 30 years (APR 2.99%)*
* Rates are subject to change. Mortgage rates are set on the date of drawdown of your loan.
All rates are exclusive of Mortgage Protection Insurance (MPI) which is a requirement of borrowing. Eligible borrowers are required to partake in the local authority collective MPI scheme. MPI is payable monthly, in addition to loan repayments.
For more information and links to the application form please see https://localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016
A new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is now available for eligible tenants to purchase their house from Carlow County Council. Eligible houses will be sold at a discount, based on household income, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme. In order to qualify to purchase your house, your primary source of income must be from employment. Certain houses are not included in the scheme. Please refer to the Tenant Information Booklet for further information, or contact the Housing Department at 059-9170362.
Mortgage Allowance Scheme
Tenants or tenant purchasers of a local authority house returning their existing house to the local authority and taking out a mortgage of at least €38,092 to purchase a house or to have a house built may qualify for a mortgage allowance. The allowance is also available to certain tenants of voluntary housing associations. The mortgage allowance is an allowance of up to €11,450 paid on a reducing basis over 5 years and is designed to ease the transition from rent to mortgage. The allowance is paid directly to the mortgage lender so that the beneficiaries mortgage repayments are reduced by the amount of the subsidy.
House Purchase and Improvement Loans
Individuals who wish to purchase a house or to build a house but cannot get a loan from a building society, bank etc. etc. may be eligible for a local authority housing loan. In order to qualify, such individuals must:
- Have been refused a loan by both a bank and a building society.
- Meet an income eligibility test.
- The borrower or his or her spouse must never previously have purchased or constructed a house.
