Offaly County Council launches affordable housing survey for Tullamore
Offaly County Council is inviting members of the public to participate in its newly launched Affordable Housing Survey. This initiative aims to gauge the level of interest for affordable housing in the Tullamore area under the Government’s ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ plan. The survey is designed to assess the need for a proposed pilot in Tullamore initially.
The survey will help the council assess demand for affordable housing and identify preferred house types. The information gathered will inform whether a scheme is viable and whether a need exists in Tullamore. It is preferable but not mandatory that people completing the survey have approval in principle from a mortgage provider or have an awareness of their borrowing potential for any future mortgage.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr John Leahy welcomed the initiative, saying: “Affordable housing is a key priority for Offaly County Council. This survey gives everyone an opportunity to have their voices heard and will guide us in delivering homes that meet the needs of individuals and families in our county over the coming years.”
Chief Executive of Offaly County Council Ms. Anna Marie Delaney stated: “Offaly County Council are delighted to commence the process of assessing the viability and need for affordable housing in Tullamore. The results of this survey will be one of the primary considerations that will underpin any potential future business case to proceed with a scheme. I am delighted to invite all interested First-Time buyers and Fresh Start applicants who have approval in principle from a mortgage provider or have an awareness of their borrowing potential to complete our survey at www.offaly.ie/housing/affordable-housing-survey/”
The survey is open to:
· First-Time Buyers and Fresh Start Applicants (those who are divorced or separated, who no longer have an interest in a family home, or those who have undergone insolvency proceedings).
· Anyone who is over 18 years of age and has Irish Citizenship or the right to reside in Ireland - regardless of whether you currently live or work in County Offaly.
Why participate?
By completing the survey, you will be helping Offaly County Council to:
· Establish the level of interest in purchasing an Affordable Home in the County.
· Plan future developments that reflect the established needs and demand.
· Determine appropriate house sizes, types, and scope of Affordable Homes.
Important to Note:
· The Affordable Housing Programme (Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme) is specifically designed for households who are unable to afford a home at its full market value, even when combining their deposit and their approved maximum mortgage.
· There are currently no properties available to purchase under this scheme.
· Any future schemes will be advertised separately, and a formal application process will apply in accordance with the legislation in place at that time.
The survey will remain open until 6pm on December 31.
It will take approximately 4 minutes to complete and is available online at: www.offaly.ie/housing/affordable-housing-survey/
For further information, please refer to the frequently asked questions document on Offaly County Council survey page at the link above or email your query to: affordablepurchase@offaly.ie