Are you eligible to buy your home?
Updated: 22 May 2012
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To be eligible to buy your Housing Executive home, you must have a minimum of five years tenancy with the Housing Executive or a qualifying landlord (for example a registered housing association). If a former tenancy is not with the Housing Executive, proof of the tenancy is required before the application will be accepted.
Tenants without the five years qualifying tenancy may still be eligible to apply if they succeeded or were assigned their tenancy from a spouse or parent.
Introductory tenants are not eligible to apply but the time as an introductory tenant will count towards eligibility and discount.
Can tenants of flats and maisonettes buy?
Tenants of flats and maisonettes can apply under the scheme. However, tenants who buy their flat or maisonette will have to pay an annual service charge in addition to the normal purchase price. The service charge is an estimate of the annual costs incurred by us. These costs include improvements, repairs, caretaking if applicable, and administration costs. The estimated service charge for the first five years will be supplied to all applicants. The service charge is reviewed annually.
Who cannot buy?
The following is a list of the circumstances where tenants cannot avail of this scheme.
Tenants of certain dwelling types
- Tenants of sheltered dwellings
- Tenants of any single storey or ground floor dwelling (other than a flat) with no more than two bedrooms to which certain conditions apply. This means the majority of tenants allocated 1 and 2 bed bungalows since October 2004 cannot apply under the scheme. Contact your local Land and Property Office
Squatters
Squatters who were not allocated their home by the Housing Executive will not have their application accepted under the scheme. In circumstances where a squatter is granted the legal tenancy the discount entitlement and eligibility is from the date the tenancy was granted.
Rent and other arrears
Tenants with arrears can apply, but the applications will not be completed until any arrears for rent or other payments due to us have been paid.
Anti social behaviour
Tenants will not be eligible under the scheme if we are actively considering taking legal action for possession of the property because of anti social behaviour.
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