For nearly forty years, secured tenants have availed of the opportunity to purchase the property they reside in from the Housing Executive or a Housing Association. This opportunity was and still is available today to those who are eligible.
As a result of the Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 coming into effect, The Right to Buy Scheme for Tenants of Registered Housing Associations is due to end from midnight on 27 August 2022.
The Department for Communities have provided some helpful information in relation to the end of the scheme. If you are a Housing Association Tenant, the responses below to frequently asked questions, may assist you in establishing if the forthcoming changes will impact on your opportunity to purchase the property you reside in: –
Why is the scheme ending?
The reasons for this change are complex.
The way Housing Associations are classified for public accounting purposes have changed. This change would potentially result in significant detrimental impacts for the building of social homes here.
Social homes are hugely important in our society and the Executive decided that this classification issue needed to be addressed so that we could continue to deliver as much social housing as possible.
To secure the future of social housing, the legislation that had to be introduced meant the House Sales Scheme for Housing Association tenants must end.
Is the House Sales Scheme being ended for all social housing tenants?
No. The changes in legislation introduced last year will end the scheme for Housing Association tenants only.
Why are NI Housing Executive tenants not affected?
Although the two House Sales Schemes operate on similar criteria, they are separate. The Housing Executive scheme was not affected by the change in accounting rules and the legislation passed in August 2020 did not include the Housing Executive scheme. The Minister has outlined that she does intend to look at the future of the Housing Executive House Sales Scheme. Therefore, it may well be the case that the right to purchase your property from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive may come to an end in the future.
When does the Statutory House Sales Scheme end?
While ending the Housing Association House Sales Scheme the legislation allowed for a transitional period of 2 years from 28 August 2020. This gives time for eligible tenants to be aware of the closure and exercise their right within that timeframe. This means that the scheme will end at midnight on 27 August 2022.
Can I still apply to buy my house until that date?
Yes. Housing Associations will accept applications from tenants to buy their homes under the Statutory House Sales Scheme up until midnight on 27 August 2022. The rules of the scheme will continue to apply up until that date and the rules can either be obtained from your Housing Association or can be accessed on the Department’s website at: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/disposal-housing-association-property
What will happen after the closing date?
If an application to purchase a house has been received by the relevant Housing Association before midnight on 27 August 2022 it will be dealt with in the usual manner. If the Housing Association requires further information from the proposed purchaser, the application to purchase will remain valid.
Equity Scheme
What if I have bought equity in a Housing Association property and wish to buy more equity after 27 August 2022?
If you have previously entered into an agreement with your Housing Association under their equity sharing scheme you will still be able to purchase more equity after 27 August 2022 and avail of any remaining discount you are entitled to.
Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association
The co-ownership scheme will continue to operate as normal. The co-ownership scheme is not covered by the statutory house sales scheme. It is operated by the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association.
What to do next
If you want to determine if you are eligible, or exercise your right to buy, we would strongly recommend that you contact your Housing Association sooner rather than that later. If you are seeking a Solicitor to act on your behalf in the purchase of your home, please do not hesitate to contact our conveyancing department here at McCay Solicitors, who will gladly provide you with a quotation and information in relation to the conveyancing process.